Updates From the Frontlines of Expression:January Dispatch |
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"I feel deeply that these times of trial reveal who we really are, and with our most basic freedoms at risk, we have seen that courage is necessary, and yes, it is contagious." — John PalfreyNCAC's 2025 Defender of Democracy Award Recipient |
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We Condemn Federal Government Lies About Constitutional Rights |
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Our core mission is to support and defend free expression in service to democracy. Over the past week, actions and statements by members of the Trump administration have amounted to an abandonment of constitutional principles and an assault on both our First Amendment rights and our democracy itself. |
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Free Expression Advocates Call on Trump Administration to Respect Public’s First Amendment Right to Record |
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The strength of American democracy lies in one simple principle: the right to hold power accountable. Yet that principle is now under attack. The Trump Administration’s claim that recording Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents is “illegal” is both unconstitutional and profoundly dangerous to our democracy. The freedom to document government actions is not a crime—it is a cornerstone of the First Amendment and of public trust in government. Read our full letter below. |
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Court Affirms Students Don’t Leave Free Speech Rights at the School Gate |
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New York City public school student Case Leroy was suspended after a photo was posted on social media. We filed an amicus brief along with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the Manhattan Institute. Here is where the case stands. |
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First Amendment Concerns Over Book Removals in Florida School Libraries |
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We raised serious concerns about the removal of books from Florida’s Hillsborough County Schools under Florida’s law. Removing books solely because of disagreement with their viewpoints violates the First Amendment, as does restricting access based on vague or overly broad content categories. A recent ruling by the U.S. District Court affirmed these principles. |
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Thank you to the Andy Warhol Foundation! |
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We have been awarded a grant from the Andy Warhol Foundation. Their continued support will enable us to increase case support for rising art censorship and to be an ally to artists facing censorship nationwide. |
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We Urge the Los Angeles Public Library to Reschedule Cancelled ‘Read Palestine Week’ Event |
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In the days leading up to its scheduled Read Palestine Week program, the Los Angeles Public Library opted to cancel it. The December event, showcasing a discussion between Jenan Matari, author of the children’s book Everything Grows in Jiddo’s Garden, and Nora Lester Murad, author of the young adult book Ida in the Middle, was to feature the authors talking “about their books and the influence of Palestine on their stories.”
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Join FOLCS and the National Coalition Against Censorship for an urgent Conversation with Lee Rowland, Executive Director, as we discuss free speech, assembly, and the power of the federal government to punish dissent. We’ll explore how the current moment is reshaping the public square—and what artists, organizers, and advocates can lawfully do to protest these actions. |
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Free expression is under real and growing threat in 2026. Join the community fighting back. |
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