Table of Contents
FIRE statement on the violent attack of Salman Rushdie at the Chautauqua Institution
The violent, on-stage attack on author Salman Rushdie is a horrible reminder that when people stop settling their disagreements with words, they too often try to do so with weapons. It is free speech that makes it possible for us to be free people. Unfortunately, there are those who wish us not to be free, who would rather use the assassin’s veto to compel belief and silence dissent.
Mr. Rushdie has long understood free speech’s necessity. He is among its strongest advocates: “Free speech is the whole thing, the whole ball game,” he once said. “Free speech is life itself.”
We wish Mr. Rushdie a speedy recovery — his voice will never be silenced.
Recent Articles
FIRE’s award-winning Newsdesk covers the free speech news you need to stay informed.
FIRE statement on campus violence and arrests
FIRE is monitoring outbreaks of violence and arrests on campuses nationwide. Sadly, we must again restate a bedrock principle: Violence is never acceptable.
BREAKING: New Title IX regulations undermine campus free speech and due process rights
New Title IX regulations encourage colleges to violate free speech rights and to eliminate essential due process protections.
STATEMENT: Title IX regs mean students less likely to receive justice
FIRE's mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought—the most essential qualities of liberty.
Stanford president and provost cheer free expression in open letter to incoming class
The letter is a ringing embrace of the importance of free speech to the mission of a university.