Free Speech
Civil stewards are defenders of free speech.
What You Can Do
Do not ignore government punishment of someone based on their speech simply because you don’t agree with what their speech is. Precedent matters and free speech encroachment by the government cannot go unchallenged.
Use your right to speech to participate in holding elected representatives accountable and to push for the actions you want to see them take.
Ensure you understand your rights around free speech and how it extends beyond just speaking and publishing words.
Publishing
The freedom to publish speech is part of our freedom of speech. Content that can be published under the protection of the First Amendment can consist of most any material with the exclusion of a narrow category of materials that are considered unprotected speech.
Readings & Resources
Institutions & Organizations
Electronic Frontier Foundation
“The Electronic Frontier Foundation is the leading nonprofit organization defending civil liberties in the digital world. Founded in 1990, EFF champions user privacy, free expression, and innovation through impact litigation, policy analysis, grassroots activism, and technology development.”
National Coalition Against Censorship
“The National Coalition Against Censorship was formed by a group of activists affiliated with the ACLU in response to the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Miller v. California, which narrowed First Amendment protections for sexual expression and opened the door to obscenity prosecutions.”
First Amendment Coalition
“Nonpartisan and nonprofit, FAC believes that the broadest range of engaged and informed communities is essential to the health of our democracy — that the values expressed by the First Amendment provide a blueprint for an inclusive, equitable society and a responsive, accountable government.”