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Free speech is a fundamental right that underpins democratic societies by allowing people to express their opinions and engage in public discourse. Sign up for FIREupdates and get the latest free speech news as it happens.

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Ash Costello

WATCH VIDEO: Ash Costello is the powerhouse frontwoman of the band New Years Day. From growing up with a Wiccan grandma and drag queen uncles to getting bullied for being “a weirdo,” Ash shares how she found the confidence to be herself — and how she finally stopped diminishing her light.

How Ash Costello stays beautiful but keeps it ugly

FIREVideos

Every other week this summer, FIREsits down with some of the biggest and up-and-coming artists in heavy metal and punk rock to discuss free expression, artistic freedom, and much more.

Civil rights, hate speech, and the First Amendment

We know the First Amendment protects hate speech. But has it always done so? And how have civil rights groups responded when their members are the target of hate speech? University of Iowa Law Professor Samantha Barbas is the author of a new law...

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Get the latest free speech news and analysis from legal and cultural thought leaders delivered directly to your inbox by subscribing to our blogs on Substack.

Free Speech Dispatch

Brought to you by ֭'s Senior Scholar for Global Expression, the Free Speech Dispatch is 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.

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Free Speech Dispatch featured image with Sarah McLaughlin
Screenshots from the FIREmini-documentary "Bodies Upon the Gears"

Bodies Upon the Gears

Documentary Short

Witness the birth of the free speech movement. Back in 1964, in light of growing political unrest, the University of California, Berkeley, banned all political speech on campus. In response, a group of college students— FIREfor Goldwater, conservatives, liberals, and communists— joined forces to create the Free Speech Movement. 

Watch the new documentary presented by FIREand directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Paul Wagner.

Free Speech Podcasts

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Clear and Present Danger - A history of free speech
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