Table of Contents
12 Dead in Attack on Satire Magazine in France
We at FIRE were horrified to hear today of the attack on the satire magazine Charlie Hebdo in Paris, which left 12 dead. Our thoughts are with the the families of those affected and the people of France. An attack of this scale and apparently based solely on free expression is intended to chill free speech worldwide. While satire (in this case of the Islamic prophet Mohammed) is always especially unpopular with the intended targets—or, in some cases, their devotees—expression cannot be considered free if it becomes too dangerous to engage in it. FIRE hopes that the perpetrators of this heinous attack are swiftly brought to justice.
Recent Articles
FIRE’s award-winning Newsdesk covers the free speech news you need to stay informed.
VICTORY: Michigan town declares Sept. 6 ‘First Amendment Day’ after FIRE sues its mayor for shouting down residents
After their mayor silenced them for criticizing her during city council meetings, four Eastpointe, Michigan, residents sued their city — and won.
USC canceling valedictorian’s commencement speech looks like calculated censorship
The university’s move, citing vague ‘safety concerns’ appears designed to placate critics of the student’s Israel criticism.
Back into the FIRE: Hasen’s response to FIRE and Rohde: Don’t read the press clause out of the Constitution — First Amendment News 420
First Amendment News is a weekly blog and newsletter about free expression issues by Ronald K. L. Collins and is editorially independent from FIRE.
Western Washington University punishes racing team for sending photo of penis drawing on pizza box
The university faulted the group for drawing “a symbol of white, male power and domination.”