by Kate Denning, Carolina Public Press
June 26, 2025

Central Piedmont Community College has reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit accusing the school of violating North Carolina’s open meetings and open records laws, as well as the First Amendment rights of plaintiffs. While not admitting to any wrongdoing, Charlotte-based CPCC agreed to lift campus bans on two plaintiffs, provided they abide by and comply with CPCC’s Free Speech, Public Assembly and Distribution Policy.

CPCC agreed to “continue to comply with the Open Meetings Law and Public Records Law, and to respond in good faith to pending records requests.”

The parties reached the settlement agreement this week involving the second-biggest community college in North Carolina. The suit was originally filed with the state in April but moved to the federal level after CPCC requested so shortly before a preliminary injunction hearing was scheduled to occur in state court. 

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Both parties are claiming victory. 

A press release from the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, the organization that represented the plaintiffs in court, said plaintiffs agreed to drop the suit after CPCC “committed to continued compliance with state transparency laws.” 

The lawsuit came after a clash over the construction of a public safety training facility near CPCC’s Levine Campus in Matthews. Activists against the facility, including eventual plaintiffs in the case, began attending CPCC Board of Trustees meetings in November 2024 to raise questions about the plans. 

The lawsuit alleged that campus security told plaintiffs Mina Ezikpe and Eboni Exceus they were banned from campus after they attended the March 12, 2025, meeting. The two argued that the bans violated their First Amendment right.

“I’m relieved the ban has been lifted,” Exceus said in the press release. “Showing up and asking questions should never be punished — community voices matter.” 

Plaintiff Xavier T. de Janon said he was asked to present identification to enter the March 12 meeting, although he was allowed to enter after refusing. The North Carolina open meetings law does not explicitly permit or prohibit identification requirements for attending a public meeting, just that any person is entitled to attend.

De Janon later asked a CPCC representative for a copy of the Board’s agenda at the same March 12 meeting and was told that there wasn’t one, the lawsuit alleged. The lawsuit argued the meeting was not properly conducted as an open meeting due to no advance notice being given on identification requirements, the lack of a provided agenda and the meeting not being formally recorded.

The settlement said CPCC agreed to provide de Janon and SCSJ attorney James Huey with their records requests for information relating to plans for the training facility. The settlement is a step forward for those who care about transparency and accountability in public institutions, de Janon said in the press release.

“With respect to Huey’s request for ‘any documents and … communications’ related to the Public Safety Training Facility now being developed at CPCC’s Levine Campus, the parties agree to work in good faith to define a mutually satisfactory response that will avoid undue expense and burden to CPCC and avoid any special service charge to Huey or Plaintiffs,” the settlement reads.

The plaintiffs dismissed the case with prejudice, meaning they cannot attempt to refile the same claim against the same defendant, June 24 after reaching the settlement agreement June 20. A CPCC spokesperson told Carolina Public Press the dismissal indicates the allegations were unsubstantiated.

“Today’s outcome clearly proves that the claims in this case were unsubstantiated and we have successfully resolved any outstanding questions,” the spokesperson wrote. “The college has a longstanding history of serving and partnering with our community, providing resources and education to our students and the broader county.”

CPCC’s spokesperson said the college is committed to the construction of the training facility and emphasized its belief in the need for the project.

“The significant need for emergency responders and cross-agency training across Mecklenburg County is paramount — and the needs continue to grow,” the spokesperson wrote. 

“Central Piedmont’s commitment to these efforts is unwavering, and we look forward to completing this state-of-the-art training facility and sharing more updates about our progress over the coming months.”

SCSJ attorney Janki Kaneria said the suit ultimately helped illuminate a project that activists felt was not taking place in the way that is expected of a public body.

“This lawsuit helped shine a light on decisions and developments around a critically important issue that was taking place out of public view,” Kaneria said in the press release. 

“As a result of this lawsuit, the community now has access to important information and a renewed commitment to openness from CPCC.” 

This article first appeared on Carolina Public Press and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The post CPCC reaches deal in federal transparency, free speech lawsuit appeared first on carolinapublicpress.org

Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.

Political Bias Rating: Center-Left

The content reflects a Center-Left bias as it emphasizes transparency, accountability, and the protection of First Amendment rights in public institutions—values commonly associated with progressive activism and social justice. The article highlights the role of activists and legal advocacy groups in challenging institutional policies, showing support for open government and community oversight. However, it maintains a balanced tone by presenting statements from both the plaintiffs and the institution, avoiding extreme or polarizing language.