Degree
This year, FIRE launched the Free Speech Dispatch, a regular series covering new and continuing censorship trends and challenges around the world. Our goal is to help readers better understand the global context of free expression. The previous entry covered how tech companies have responded to censorship demands, how speech is faring in the U.K., and the…
FIRE is suing members of the North Carolina State Board of Elections to overturn multiple unconstitutional laws banning photos of official ballots, or “ballot selfies.” Under the First Amendment, the government can’t restrict political speech unless it has a compelling reason — and North Carolina doesn’t have one. Despite being a crime in 14 states,…
EASTPOINTE, Mich., Aug. 22, 2024 — Autumn may be just around the corner, but the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression forecasts sunny days ahead for free speech in Eastpointe. On Friday, Sept. 6, FIRE will throw a party to celebrate the city’s inaugural First Amendment Day! On Sept. 6, 2022, former Eastpointe mayor Monique…
Exceptional, renaissance, extraordinary, and generous. A brilliant First Amendment lawyer with an uninhibited passion for his calling. My friend, and that of many others: Bruce E.H. Johnson (1950-2024). Bruce’s unexpected passing weighs heavily on the hearts of those who knew this remarkable man; his intellect was amazing, his big-heartedness boundless, and he could also be profoundly…
If you find yourself almost anywhere in the southeastern United States in warmer months, you are bound to encounter great swaths of landscape entirely covered by big, leafy kudzu vines. In some places, it looks pretty. The vines can easily take over hillsides, powerlines, and abandoned buildings, and the resulting soft green landscape can be picturesque….
Of all the forms of free expression protected by the First Amendment, flag burning is one of the most contentious. Even though the Supreme Court ruled in 1989 that burning the American flag is a constitutionally protected form of free speech, many people, including presidential candidate Donald Trump, think it shouldn’t be. On Monday, during…
If you ask an average person what should be done to fight “cybercrime,” they’d probably say that police should track down those involved in acts like hacking or ransomware attacks. Such crimes are a real and legitimate threat, and international cooperation is often imperative to combat them. But a new anti-cybercrime treaty at the United Nations doesn’t…
Can a course on conservatism shake up the liberal status quo on campus? Tufts University professor Eitan Hersh presents his unique class on American conservatism and its impact on campus free speech and open dialogue. He discusses the challenges and opportunities of teaching conservative thought in a predominantly liberal academic environment. Eitan Hersh is a…
Listen to the article 4 min This audio is auto-generated. Please let us know if you have feedback. Dive Brief: California lawmakers passed legislation Wednesday that seeks to prevent the state’s private colleges from giving admissions preference to applicants related to alumni or who have ties with donors. Private colleges that violate the ban would…
Dr. LaVar J. Charleston has been named vice chancellor for inclusive excellence at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. LaVar J. Charleston“As a two-time alum, I am profoundly grateful for the opportunity to advance the work of inclusive excellence at UW–Madison, and I look forward to further collaborations with our campus and state,” said Charleston, who…