Panelists discuss national anthem protests, First Amendment rights

Front row: Lucinda Finley, Paul Cambria (Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria LLP), Lorenzo Alexander (The Buffalo Bills, National Football League Players Association) and Shane Costa ‘13 (Pillar Sports Management LLC). Back row: Nellie Drew, and law students Anthony DiPerna ’19 and William Hython '19. Photo by Meredith Forrest Kulwicki, UB Communications. — Front row: Lucinda Finley, Paul Cambria, Lorenzo Alexander, and Shane Costa ‘13. Back row: Nellie Drew, and law students Anthony DiPerna ’19 and William Hython ’19. Photo by Meredith Forrest Kulwicki, UB Communications.

The ongoing controversy regarding athletes speaking out and demonstrating on societal and government issues was the topic of discussion at a special event on March 7, 2019 sponsored by the School of Law’s Center for the Advancement of Sport and the Office of Inclusive Excellence.

“Freedom of Expression: The First Amendment and Athletics” featured four distinguished panelists with law or sports backgrounds: Paul Cambria, a First Amendment attorney with Lipsitz Green Scime Cambria; Lucinda Finley, Frank Raichle Professor of Law in the UB law school; Lorenzo Alexander, linebacker for the Buffalo Bills and vice president of the National Football League Players Association (NFLPA); and Shane Costa, a certified NFLPA agent and director of football operations at Pillar Sports Management LLC. The panel was moderated by Nellie Drew, director of the Center for the Advancement of Sport.