We'll raise a glass to this! 🍻🔥
Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Non-profit Organizations
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 6,540 followers
FIRE: Principled. Nonpartisan. Defending your rights.
About us
FIRE’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought—the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them. FIRE recognizes that colleges and universities play a vital role in preserving free thought within a free society. To this end, we place a special emphasis on defending the individual rights of students and faculty members on our nation’s campuses, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience.
- Website
-
http://www.thefire.org
External link for Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
- Industry
- Non-profit Organizations
- Company size
- 51-200 employees
- Headquarters
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Type
- Nonprofit
- Founded
- 1999
- Specialties
- Education, Constitutional law, First Amendment law, and Higher Education
Locations
-
Primary
510 Walnut St
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106, US
Employees at Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression
Updates
-
Ever wonder if the government interferes with content moderation? The evidence says yes! 🤮 Government officials have pressured social media companies to change their content moderation practices. In Murthy v. Missouri, the Supreme Court heard a challenge to this backdoor censorship — known as “jawboning” — but provided little guidance on how government officials should communicate with tech platforms about their speech practices. FIRE’s John Coleman, Cato Institute’s Andrew Grossman, Katie Harbath, & Matt Perault will unpack government threats to your freedom online and what changes must be made to protect individuals from government censorship. Sign up now ➡️ https://lnkd.in/eCzXgswb
-
-
VICTORY: Middle Tennessee State University (MTSU) is the latest school to earn a “green light” 🟢 rating from FIRE! This rating is exclusively reserved for institutions with no written policies seriously imperiling student speech.
Middle Tennessee State University earns top rating for free speech
thefire.org
-
The Israeli-Palestinian conflict went from barely a blip on most college students’ radars to an almost all-consuming concern. Now, FIRE can reveal how much the war in Gaza has affected free speech on campus. #survey #study #freespeech
Surveys reveal rising student and faculty concern about censorship, self-censorship post-October 7
thefire.org
-
Keely Gliwa had already completed her Master of Science degree from the University of Florida when she was suspended for three years after being arrested while helping a student suffering a panic attack during a pro-Palestinian protest. This is unacceptable.
University of Florida dean unilaterally kicks out pro-Palestinian protester for three years, withholds her degree
thefire.org
-
FIRE, Academic Freedom Alliance, and Heterodox Academy sent an open letter to American college trustees urging them to adopt and uphold the principles of institutional neutrality. We asked for their commitment by September 1st so new policies can be in place for the academic year. By committing to the principles of institutional neutrality, universities signal their dedication to debate, diversity of opinion, and the pursuit of knowledge. They also protect themselves from accusations of political bias. That’s why FIRE encourages all colleges and universities to make this commitment and adopt Institutional Neutrality before students return to campus this fall. Click the link to tell your school to adopt institutional neutrality now! #college #freespeech #academicfreedom #institutionalneutrality #freedomofexpression
Tell your school to adopt institutional neutrality
thefire.org
-
Today, the Pennsylvania General Assembly took an important step toward protecting First Amendment rights by formally — and unanimously — passing the anti-SLAPP bill HB 1466! The move follows another unanimous approval by the state Senate just two days ago. SLAPP suits (Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation) are often filed over complaints like defamation, invasion of privacy, or nuisance, but the real goal is usually to silence or intimidate people who speak out on issues of public concern. PA’s new legislation, a decade in the making and now finally headed to the Governor for signature, significantly expands anti-SLAPP protections and reinforces First Amendment rights for all Pennsylvanians.
Pa. lawmakers pass bill to curb frivolous lawsuits, protect free speech
pennlive.com
-
Friendly reminder: Whether you think professors should address personal opinions on controversial issues in the classroom or not, it does not by itself violate the First Amendment.
Faculty can address Israeli-Palestinian conflict in class assignments, but there are limits
thefire.org
-
The US Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has begun releasing [heavily redacted] reports from its new ‘anti-harassment’ investigations — and it doesn’t look good. As FIRE warned, it seems the only way to satisfy the OCR’s mandate is to silence “offensive” speech, regardless of the First Amendment or college policy. For a public agency entrusted with the responsibility of defending civil rights, the OCR’s blatant disregard for free speech is disturbing. FIRE’s Robert Shibley breaks down the reports from the University of Michigan, the The City University of New York system, and Lafayette College in his latest for FIRE.
Fed investigation of Lafayette College over Israel-Hamas protests highlights new threat to free speech
thefire.org