Legal Definitions - speech-plus

Speech-plus refers to a form of expression that combines spoken or written words with physical conduct or action. It's a way for individuals to communicate a message not just through what they say, but also through what they do. This combination of speech and action is often used to convey a stronger or more visible message, particularly in protests or demonstrations, and is generally protected under free speech principles, though the "plus" (the action) may be subject to reasonable regulations.

• Example 1: Environmental Protest

  A group of environmental activists gathers outside a government building. Some members hold large banners displaying slogans like "Save Our Planet" and "Renewable Energy Now," while others engage in a coordinated "die-in" where they lie on the ground, pretending to be dead, to symbolize the environmental crisis. The banners represent the speech (written words conveying a message), and the "die-in" is the plus (the physical action designed to draw attention and convey urgency). Together, these elements form a "speech-plus" demonstration.

• Example 2: Labor Union Demonstration

  During a labor dispute, striking workers march outside their workplace. They chant slogans such as "Fair Wages Now!" and "Workers' Rights Are Human Rights," while simultaneously picketing, which involves walking in a circle carrying signs and attempting to dissuade others from entering the premises. The chants are the verbal speech, and the act of picketing—the organized walking and carrying of signs—is the physical plus. This combined activity constitutes "speech-plus" as a form of protest.

• Example 3: Student Advocacy

  Students at a university organize a demonstration to advocate for increased mental health services. They gather in the campus quad, where several students take turns speaking at a podium, sharing personal stories and statistics about student well-being. Simultaneously, other students have set up an art installation featuring hundreds of small, empty chairs, each representing a student who has struggled with mental health issues. The speeches are the direct verbal speech, and the visual art installation, along with the act of setting it up and displaying it, serves as the symbolic plus. This combination effectively communicates their message through both words and impactful action.