Free Speech

Reproductive Freedom

It is almost certainly no accident that freedom of speech is one of the very first freedoms listed in the Bill of Rights: “Congress shall make no law…abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” The Constitution’s framers believed that freedom of inquiry and liberty of expression were the hallmarks of a democratic society.

The First Amendment exists precisely to protect all forms of expression, from political dissent to even the most offensive and controversial speech, from government suppression. The best way to counter obnoxious speech is with more speech, not censorship.

From defending the speech rights of protesters during events like the 2003 FTAA ministerial meetings in Miami and the 2012 Republican National Convention in Tampa, to ensuring that groups have the right to express themselves no matter what the content of their speech, the ACLU of Florida has been instrumental in challenging government efforts to silence protest groups and stifle freedom of expression.

The Latest

News & Commentary
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Jose Antonio Vargas on What We Get Wrong About Immigration Reform

Vargas shares with the ACLU the common misconceptions about immigration and immigrants that he’s encountered through work with his nonprofit, Define America.
News & Commentary
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Read Detained Activist Mahmoud Khalil’s Letter to His Son

The Trump administration has detained Khalil since March for his activism. Ahead of his first Father’s Day, he writes about the grief he has felt being separated from his wife and son.
News & Commentary
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13 “Woke” Books Banned in DOD Schools

The Department of Defense has banned more than 500 titles from its military schools, alleging the books promote “woke” ideologies about race, gender, sex and sexuality.
News & Commentary
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The Trump Administration is Banning Books on Military Bases. We Sued.

Censorship in Defense Department K-12 schools violates the First Amendment.