FIRE

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We defend and promote free speech for all Americans in our courtrooms, on our campuses, and in our culture.

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“Netanyahu if you can hear me drop some bonbons for us capstone students in Ocean Bank Convention Center.” That’s the speech that got 23-year-old Florida International University student Gabriela Saldana charged with a felony, and sparked this reaction from a judge:

“Netanyahu if you can hear me drop some bonbons for us capstone students in Ocean Bank Convention Center.” That’s the speech that got 23-year-old Florida International University student Gabriela Saldana charged with a felony, and sparked this reaction from a judge:

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BREAKING: FIRE and College Pulse have just released the 2025 College Free Speech Rankings. Surveying 58K+ students from 257 institutions, the results find that free speech has been threatened in historic ways since the Israel-Hamas war began. Expand to learn more ⬇️ 🟡 UVA was ranked as this year’s best school for free speech! Michigan Technological University, Florida State University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Georgia Tech round out the top five. 🔴 Harvard University is ranked as the worst school for free speech for the second year in a row. Columbia University and New York University round out the bottom three — each earning an “abysmal” rating. 🔴 Campus deplatforming attempts spiked by 400% since Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel. 🔴 7 out of 10 students are uncomfortable publicly disagreeing with a professor about a controversial political topic. 🔴 54% of students report it’s difficult to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On 17 campuses where this issue was especially contentious, 75% or more marked the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as difficult to discuss. 🔴 1 in 4 students said it was unclear whether their college administration protects free speech. 🔴 1/3 of students approve of the use of violence at least “rarely” to stop campus speakers. 🔴 7 out of 10 students say it's at least “rarely okay” to shout down a speaker. Given all of this, it is unsurprising that American confidence in higher education is at a record low.

BREAKING: FIRE and College Pulse have just released the 2025 College Free Speech Rankings. Surveying 58K+ students from 257 institutions, the results find that free speech has been threatened in historic ways since the Israel-Hamas war began. Expand to learn more ⬇️ 🟡 UVA was ranked as this year’s best school for free speech! Michigan Technological University, Florida State University, Eastern Kentucky University, and Georgia Tech round out the top five. 🔴 Harvard University is ranked as the worst school for free speech for the second year in a row. Columbia University and New York University round out the bottom three — each earning an “abysmal” rating. 🔴 Campus deplatforming attempts spiked by 400% since Hamas’ October 7th attack on Israel. 🔴 7 out of 10 students are uncomfortable publicly disagreeing with a professor about a controversial political topic. 🔴 54% of students report it’s difficult to talk about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On 17 campuses where this issue was especially contentious, 75% or more marked the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as difficult to discuss. 🔴 1 in 4 students said it was unclear whether their college administration protects free speech. 🔴 1/3 of students approve of the use of violence at least “rarely” to stop campus speakers. 🔴 7 out of 10 students say it's at least “rarely okay” to shout down a speaker. Given all of this, it is unsurprising that American confidence in higher education is at a record low.

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LAWSUIT: Americans have the right to know if our government is maintaining a secret database of people who have protested the administration’s immigration policies. We requested these records from the Department of Homeland Security, but it failed to respond, so we’re suing.

LAWSUIT: Americans have the right to know if our government is maintaining a secret database of people who have protested the administration’s immigration policies. We requested these records from the Department of Homeland Security, but it failed to respond, so we’re suing.

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BREAKING: FIRE is suing Secretary of State Marco Rubio, challenging the laws he is using to target lawfully present noncitizens for speech protected by the Constitution. No administration should be able to deport lawfully present noncitizens for their opinions.

BREAKING: FIRE is suing Secretary of State Marco Rubio, challenging the laws he is using to target lawfully present noncitizens for speech protected by the Constitution. No administration should be able to deport lawfully present noncitizens for their opinions.

1,114,358 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

What does the Constitution mean in a divided America? That’s the question behind The Blessings of Liberty, a new podcast presented by FIRE and hosted by our newest senior fellow, Jeffrey Rosen. We’re kicking things off with none other than Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

What does the Constitution mean in a divided America? That’s the question behind The Blessings of Liberty, a new podcast presented by FIRE and hosted by our newest senior fellow, Jeffrey Rosen. We’re kicking things off with none other than Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch.

133,896 görüntüleme • 2 ay önce

MUST WATCH: Revoked visas. Deportations. A Red Scare law revived. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says noncitizens don’t have First Amendment rights. Is he right? This is "1AX: Immigration," a FIRE original documentary, featuring Nico Perrino, David French, and Jacob Mchangama.

MUST WATCH: Revoked visas. Deportations. A Red Scare law revived. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio says noncitizens don’t have First Amendment rights. Is he right? This is "1AX: Immigration," a FIRE original documentary, featuring Nico Perrino, David French, and Jacob Mchangama.

541,463 görüntüleme • 9 ay önce

"You raise your voice, I erase your voice.” This viral video of an ICE agent threatening to silence a Minnesota protester is about as un-American as it gets. The events in Minnesota give the country a lesson in the First Amendment that we’d all be better off remembering: The government can punish actual crimes, but it cannot punish protected criticism or protest. When the government blurs those lines, it stops enforcing the law and starts acting like might makes right. That should scare every American.

"You raise your voice, I erase your voice.” This viral video of an ICE agent threatening to silence a Minnesota protester is about as un-American as it gets. The events in Minnesota give the country a lesson in the First Amendment that we’d all be better off remembering: The government can punish actual crimes, but it cannot punish protected criticism or protest. When the government blurs those lines, it stops enforcing the law and starts acting like might makes right. That should scare every American.

329,762 görüntüleme • 6 ay önce

This is Monica Meeks. She is an Army veteran and a lifelong public servant. Monica was fired from her state job over her Facebook comment about Charlie Kirk. She spent over twenty years defending the rights of her fellow Americans — now FIRE will defend hers.

This is Monica Meeks. She is an Army veteran and a lifelong public servant. Monica was fired from her state job over her Facebook comment about Charlie Kirk. She spent over twenty years defending the rights of her fellow Americans — now FIRE will defend hers.

368,648 görüntüleme • 7 ay önce

When #JerrySpringer was mayor of Cincinnati, Nazis wanted to march downtown. He knew he had to allow it but worried what his parents—who were Holocaust survivors—would think. They told him, "This is America... Let 'em march." RIP to a principled free speech advocate.

When #JerrySpringer was mayor of Cincinnati, Nazis wanted to march downtown. He knew he had to allow it but worried what his parents—who were Holocaust survivors—would think. They told him, "This is America... Let 'em march." RIP to a principled free speech advocate.

1,519,794 görüntüleme • 3 yıl önce

Bill Maher is right: Defending free speech means defending speech you hate. Thanks for the shout out Bill Maher on Real Time with Bill Maher.

Bill Maher is right: Defending free speech means defending speech you hate. Thanks for the shout out Bill Maher on Real Time with Bill Maher.

585,384 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

What happened at UCLA School of Law undermines a university’s basic function. Students have every right to object, question, and peacefully protest invited speakers. But sustained disruption preventing others from hearing a speaker has no place at a university committed to free inquiry. We’ll be watching UCLA’s response.

What happened at UCLA School of Law undermines a university’s basic function. Students have every right to object, question, and peacefully protest invited speakers. But sustained disruption preventing others from hearing a speaker has no place at a university committed to free inquiry. We’ll be watching UCLA’s response.

101,706 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

FIRE is deeply troubled by The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s decision to condemn satire and announce an investigation into protected student expression. The The Daily Tar Heel, which is editorially and financially independent from the university, published satirical April Fool’s articles with headlines like “Trump Orders Alcohol Law Enforcement in Chapel Hill Replaced with ICE Agents” and “UNC Brings Back DEI-For Whites.” After calls for takedowns from student groups and the student body president, the paper took the articles down and its editor-in-chief apologized. Hill After Hours, a separate registered student group, also posted and deleted a TikTok sketch satirizing a stereotypical white student walking through an area of campus where predominantly students of color have historically lived. In response, Senior Vice Provost James Orr issued a university statement condemning the satirical content and announced the university was investigating Hill After Hours. That is not the role of a public university. Students and student journalists do not lose their First Amendment rights because their speech is offensive, unpopular, or badly received. Critics are free to answer with more speech. UNC is not free to answer it with condemnation and investigation. UNC-Chapel Hill’s response also raises serious concerns under North Carolina law, which requires UNC System institutions to remain neutral on “the political controversies of the day.” A university cannot claim neutrality while taking an official side against protected student expression. UNC-Chapel Hill must retract its statement and end the investigation. Offense is not license to police protected expression.

FIRE is deeply troubled by The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s decision to condemn satire and announce an investigation into protected student expression. The The Daily Tar Heel, which is editorially and financially independent from the university, published satirical April Fool’s articles with headlines like “Trump Orders Alcohol Law Enforcement in Chapel Hill Replaced with ICE Agents” and “UNC Brings Back DEI-For Whites.” After calls for takedowns from student groups and the student body president, the paper took the articles down and its editor-in-chief apologized. Hill After Hours, a separate registered student group, also posted and deleted a TikTok sketch satirizing a stereotypical white student walking through an area of campus where predominantly students of color have historically lived. In response, Senior Vice Provost James Orr issued a university statement condemning the satirical content and announced the university was investigating Hill After Hours. That is not the role of a public university. Students and student journalists do not lose their First Amendment rights because their speech is offensive, unpopular, or badly received. Critics are free to answer with more speech. UNC is not free to answer it with condemnation and investigation. UNC-Chapel Hill’s response also raises serious concerns under North Carolina law, which requires UNC System institutions to remain neutral on “the political controversies of the day.” A university cannot claim neutrality while taking an official side against protected student expression. UNC-Chapel Hill must retract its statement and end the investigation. Offense is not license to police protected expression.

109,725 görüntüleme • 3 ay önce

Disruptors at Princeton University shouted at, pulled a fire alarm on, and walked out of former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s speech yesterday. We’re starting to sound like a broken record, but event disruptions are not free expression!

Disruptors at Princeton University shouted at, pulled a fire alarm on, and walked out of former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett’s speech yesterday. We’re starting to sound like a broken record, but event disruptions are not free expression!

336,357 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

COMEDY VIDEO: With a new season of NFL football starting tonight, are sports really the place for activism? Well, it depends on if the announcers agree with the activism.😅 Thankfully, when it comes to free speech, FIRE is all in.

COMEDY VIDEO: With a new season of NFL football starting tonight, are sports really the place for activism? Well, it depends on if the announcers agree with the activism.😅 Thankfully, when it comes to free speech, FIRE is all in.

638,060 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

Florida International University is requiring students to record apology videos after their silent anti-ICE protest at a campus event. The protest drew no complaints, and admin even admitted it wasn’t disruptive, yet students face charges under an unconstitutional speech policy.

Florida International University is requiring students to record apology videos after their silent anti-ICE protest at a campus event. The protest drew no complaints, and admin even admitted it wasn’t disruptive, yet students face charges under an unconstitutional speech policy.

20,949 görüntüleme • 21 gün önce

Free speech has been one of America’s most revolutionary ideas. Now, we invite you to a celebration 250 years in the making. This is Soapbox, FIRE’s free speech conference. Tickets are now on sale.

Free speech has been one of America’s most revolutionary ideas. Now, we invite you to a celebration 250 years in the making. This is Soapbox, FIRE’s free speech conference. Tickets are now on sale.

125,127 görüntüleme • 6 ay önce

Hate speech laws existed in post-WWI Germany. They not only helped the Nazis gain power, they helped the Nazis censor anyone who challenged it. FIRE Senior Fellow Nadine Strossen explains how history proves that censorship only makes anti-Semitism worse. 🎯

Hate speech laws existed in post-WWI Germany. They not only helped the Nazis gain power, they helped the Nazis censor anyone who challenged it. FIRE Senior Fellow Nadine Strossen explains how history proves that censorship only makes anti-Semitism worse. 🎯

471,171 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

BREAKING: FIRE’s 2026 College Free Speech Rankings reveal America’s colleges are failing. The nation’s report card on campus speech shows over half of colleges received an “F” rating. Intolerance in students has skyrocketed in the Trump 2.0 era.

BREAKING: FIRE’s 2026 College Free Speech Rankings reveal America’s colleges are failing. The nation’s report card on campus speech shows over half of colleges received an “F” rating. Intolerance in students has skyrocketed in the Trump 2.0 era.

175,491 görüntüleme • 10 ay önce

Whether or not you agree with a player's speech, we should all agree that free speech is essential. And no one knows that better than sports fans. Check out FIRE's new ad airing TONIGHT during the USC Football ✌️ vs. Notre Dame Football game! ⏰ 4:30 PT / 7:30 ET 📺 NBC Sports

Whether or not you agree with a player's speech, we should all agree that free speech is essential. And no one knows that better than sports fans. Check out FIRE's new ad airing TONIGHT during the USC Football ✌️ vs. Notre Dame Football game! ⏰ 4:30 PT / 7:30 ET 📺 NBC Sports

348,103 görüntüleme • 2 yıl önce

The UK isn’t just regulating the internet. Now, regulators want oversight of streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu for “harmful” content. When governments police what counts as “offensive,” companies may think twice about what shows they stream. 🎥: Sarah McLaughlin

The UK isn’t just regulating the internet. Now, regulators want oversight of streaming platforms like Netflix and Hulu for “harmful” content. When governments police what counts as “offensive,” companies may think twice about what shows they stream. 🎥: Sarah McLaughlin

63,127 görüntüleme • 4 ay önce

LAWSUIT: With FIRE’s help, an Arizona mom is suing the City of Surprise, AZ., after the mayor ordered her arrest for questioning a pay raise for a city official. In America, the last thing citizens should fear when they attend public meetings is leaving in handcuffs.

LAWSUIT: With FIRE’s help, an Arizona mom is suing the City of Surprise, AZ., after the mayor ordered her arrest for questioning a pay raise for a city official. In America, the last thing citizens should fear when they attend public meetings is leaving in handcuffs.

228,714 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce

Whether you support him or not, President Trump’s systematic retaliation against law firms like Susman Godfrey for representing clients or causes he opposes is more than an attack on those firms — it’s an attack on the rule of law itself. Lawyers make easy targets. But as John Adams knew when he defended the British soldiers on trial for the Boston Massacre, securing our rights and freedoms depends on their efforts to uphold the rule of law and defend the unpopular. If you’re being prosecuted, suing the government for violating your rights, or challenging an unconstitutional law, you need a lawyer. And you shouldn’t have to worry about whether the government will retaliate against the attorneys who take your case. Worryingly, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight to these executive actions that threaten to chill First Amendment-protected advocacy, undermine the right to counsel, and erode due process. President Trump announced that five more executive orders targeting law firms and their clients are forthcoming, even after courts blocked three earlier orders for likely violating the Constitution. The use of executive power to punish opponents is neither new nor confined to a single party, but we should always be alarmed by such unconstitutional overreach. Today’s tactics can just as easily be turned against the views or causes you support tomorrow. For nearly 250 years, America has been a nation of laws, not men. Our heritage of freedom and due process demands that legal processes remain accessible to those with grievances. Access to counsel is a critical part of that liberty.

Whether you support him or not, President Trump’s systematic retaliation against law firms like Susman Godfrey for representing clients or causes he opposes is more than an attack on those firms — it’s an attack on the rule of law itself. Lawyers make easy targets. But as John Adams knew when he defended the British soldiers on trial for the Boston Massacre, securing our rights and freedoms depends on their efforts to uphold the rule of law and defend the unpopular. If you’re being prosecuted, suing the government for violating your rights, or challenging an unconstitutional law, you need a lawyer. And you shouldn’t have to worry about whether the government will retaliate against the attorneys who take your case. Worryingly, there doesn’t seem to be an end in sight to these executive actions that threaten to chill First Amendment-protected advocacy, undermine the right to counsel, and erode due process. President Trump announced that five more executive orders targeting law firms and their clients are forthcoming, even after courts blocked three earlier orders for likely violating the Constitution. The use of executive power to punish opponents is neither new nor confined to a single party, but we should always be alarmed by such unconstitutional overreach. Today’s tactics can just as easily be turned against the views or causes you support tomorrow. For nearly 250 years, America has been a nation of laws, not men. Our heritage of freedom and due process demands that legal processes remain accessible to those with grievances. Access to counsel is a critical part of that liberty.

156,425 görüntüleme • 1 yıl önce