[oh8eleven]

the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to private institutions
Really? How so?

[Dark Skies]

Really? How so?

Tell your boss you think he's a dictatorial jackass and you'll learn "how so."

[freedumb2003]

the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to private institutions Really? How so?

You're joking, right?

[agere_contra]

The 1st Amendment applies to the US Congress only.

[Steve_Seattle]

As originally written, the 1st Amendment places restrictions only on the federal government ("Congress") with regards to curtailing freedom of the press, freedom pf religion, etc.

In modern times, since the passage of the 14th Amendment, it is been interpreted as also applying to state and local governments, hence the endless battles regarding nativity scenes and high school commencement speeches. (I think applying the 1st Amendment to state and local governments completely subverts the original intent of the amendment, which was to keep the federal government OUT of local affairs, not to give federal courts the power to micromanage local affairs such as high school commencement speeches.)

Despite all this, few if any courts would say that the 1st Amendment as such applies to actions by private individuals or businesses. Nonetheless, myriad anti-discrimination laws, both federal and local, often create that impression.

[monocle]

Read the First Amendment. As someone once said it is better to remain silent and thought to be ignorant than to confirm your ignorance by speaking.

[Carry_Okie]

the 1st Amendment doesn't apply to private institutions

Really? How so?

It's a matter of private property rights. The private employer may be hiring a person to say (or to not say) specific things. If employee violates that contract, the employer has a right to withhold further employment. It is, after all, their money. We don't have laws forcing employers to pay for whatever employees may want to do or say.