The Department of Justice said Tuesday it will support a California student challenging the constitutionality of a "free speech zone" created by his college.

In a statement of interest, the Justice Department said it will back Kevin Shaw, who sued Pierce College in Los Angeles. According to Shaw, administrators banned him from distributing Spanish-language copies of the U.S. Constitution outside of a 616-square-foot area on campus.

In a statement, Attorney General Jeff Sessions called on college and university campus administrators and faculty to "defend free expression boldly and unequivocally." The Justice Department argued the policies restricting students to a "Free Speech Area" violate the student's First Amendment rights.

Last month, Sessions said free speech is " under attack" on college campus, and the Justice Department filed its first statement of interest backing a Georgia student.