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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

@thefireorg.bsky.social

5.7K followers 4 following 300 posts

We defend and promote free speech for all Americans in our courtrooms, on our campuses, and in our culture.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · Mar 24

America today feels divided.

But the one thing we should all agree on is free speech.

We're FIRE. We defend your First Amendment rights no matter who you are or what you believe.

Because that’s what being principled and nonpartisan is all about.

Join The Free Speech Movement

YouTube video by FIRE

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 8d

Gallaudet can’t compel conformity without undermining its own existing commitments to free speech.

FIRE calls on the university to rescind these restrictions and restore students’ full expressive and associational rights.

www.thefire.org/research-lea...

FIRE Letter to Gallaudet University, September 26, 2025

www.thefire.org

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 8d

Brotherhood and sisterhood are forced to take a backseat to bureaucracy and suppression in Greek Life at @GallaudetU.

Their new Greek Reform Guidelines impose sweeping rules that ban words like “pledge,” control student attire at events, and restrict who can become members.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 13d

This serves as a warning to other universities who have sought to punish faculty for similar comments: the law is not on your side.

Faculty don’t lose their right to speak about matters of public interest simply because they work for a public university.

storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

storage.courtlistener.com

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 13d

A federal court has vindicated the rights of a @USD professor who was set to be fired for social media posts about Charlie Kirk’s murder.

This decision confirms what FIRE has long said—the First Amendment protects faculty’s personal speech on matters of public concern.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 14d

ASU’s apparent restriction does the opposite, flying in the face of the First Amendment.

FIRE demands that Angelo State University clarify whether the restriction exists—and if so, scrap it immediately.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 14d

Texas’s Angelo State University reportedly has an unwritten policy that bans faculty from discussing “transgender topics,” using students’ preferred names, or displaying LGBTQ flags.

As a public university, ASU must allow faculty to teach students as they see fit.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 14d

The “Black 2 School Block Party” was open to all — just like Mizzou’s very own Black cultural programs and courses.

Free expression for all can’t mean free expression for only some. Mizzou must cut the hypocrisy and realign its commitment to the First Amendment on its campuses.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 14d

The University of Missouri doubles down on cancelling a student event for using “Black” in the name, claiming students might think it was racially exclusive.

Yet Mizzou has no issue with its own Gaines/Oldham Black Culture Center or Black Studies courses.

Pot, meet kettle.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 15d

FIRE will continue to call on private institutions to stand up for their rights — no matter who is in office.

As we wrote to the Supreme Court back in Feb. 2024, when the government jawbones private platforms into silencing speech, it violates the First Amendment.

www.thefire.org/research-lea...

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 15d

Google should not have waited to acknowledge it was pressured by the Biden administration to block content on its platforms.

Google condemns jawboning now, but it failed to stand up for the rights of its users when it mattered.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 15d

The First Amendment protects public university faculty when they speak as citizens on matters of public concern. Faculty don’t lose their rights simply because politicians demand it.

USD’s actions violate the Constitution.

www.thefire.org/research-lea...

University of South Dakota-Memorandum in Support of Motion for Temporary Restraining Order

www.thefire.org

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 15d

BREAKING: A University of South Dakota professor filed a federal lawsuit today after the university moved to fire him over a Facebook post about Charlie Kirk’s assassination, following pressure from top state officials.

FIRE supports Professor Hook’s efforts to defend his First Amendment rights.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 16d

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s defenders say he didn’t pressure ABC to suspend Jimmy Kimmel. The complete timeline of events proves a different story.

✍🏻: Tyler Tone

www.thefire.org/news/carrs-t...

Carr’s threats to ABC are jawboning any way you slice it

ABC suspended Jimmy Kimmel hours after FCC Chair Brendan Carr suggested they could face consequences for remarks Kimmel made in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s murder.

www.thefire.org

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 20d

🔗: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

Opinion | Jimmy Kimmel’s ouster is just the tip of the iceberg

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s brazen threats to broadcasters have no place in a free society.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 20d

FIRE’s Bob Corn-Revere for @PostOpinions: FCC Chair Brendan Carr nakedly abused government power to pressure ABC into removing Jimmy Kimmel from the air for his speech. In America, the government doesn’t get to play network executive and determine who and what you watch.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 21d

5/ Now, as ever, students, faculty, administrators, and alumni must stand firm on the First Amendment.

FIRE will be here — holding the line, and holding institutions accountable when they don’t.

www.thefire.org/news/you-can...

You can’t fire your way to free speech

Punishing speech after Kirk’s assassination doesn’t protect free expression — it erodes it.

www.thefire.org

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 21d

4/ Our Faculty Legal Defense Fund gives public college faculty legal help when they’re punished. We connect qualifying cases with local attorneys and cover initial costs.

If you know a professor facing punishment for their speech, contact FIRE. ⬇️
www.thefire.org/defending-yo...

Faculty Legal Defense Fund

The Faculty Legal Defense Fund offers “first responder” assistance in protecting academic freedoms held by faculty at public colleges and universities.

www.thefire.org

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 21d

3/ Over the past week, FIRE has already reviewed or intervened in dozens of such cases, and the number continues to grow. Faculty and students facing discipline for protected speech are not alone.

www.thefire.org/defending-yo...

Campus Rights Advocacy

Campus Rights Advocacy provides free assistance to students and faculty facing civil liberties violations on college and university campuses.

www.thefire.org

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 21d

2/ The murder of Charlie Kirk has sent a jolt through American life — especially on campus, where ideas are meant to be challenged, not assassinated.

This fraught moment may tempt censorship of protected speech, but we cannot let that happen.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 21d

The firing of Clemson University faculty members for posts about the murder of Charlie Kirk is the start of a troubling national trend.

FIRE reminds Clemson and all public universities that protected speech remains protected, even in tragedy.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 21d

Be the first to know when registration opens and speakers are announced!

Mark your calendars—keeping these principles alive is up to all of us.

📅 November 4-6, 2026
📍Philadelphia, PA

www.thefire.org/news/introdu...

Introducing Soapbox 2026: Free speech – still revolutionary!

FIRE is launching Soapbox 2026 — our bold new conference dedicated to the power of expression, the courage of dissent, and the timeless value of speaking freely.

www.thefire.org

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 21d

On Constitution Day, we honor the principles that make America strong and remember that its survival depends on us.

Introducing Soapbox: FIRE’s bold new conference to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary with high-impact keynotes, timely panels, and unforgettable entertainment.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 22d

Welcome! You are invited to join a webinar: FIRE Reacts: Pam Bondi Says Hate Speech is Not Free Speech, and More. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email about joining the webinar.

Join us as we break down the headlines, answer your questions, and reaffirm the principle that free speech means protecting all speech.

thefire-org.zoom.us

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 22d

WEBINAR: U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi says hate speech isn’t free speech—but the Supreme Court has declared otherwise.

Join FIRE as we unpack Bondi’s remarks, explain what the law actually says, and respond to the latest free speech news from the past week.

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Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression @thefireorg.bsky.social · 22d

President Trump suggested today that media outlets are engaging in “hate speech” by being “unfair” to him and “maybe” should be prosecuted.

Trump’s statement demonstrates the inherent danger of “hate speech” laws: Those in power will always weaponize them to silence dissent.

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