Faces of Free Speech
Legal Support
After over 20 years as the premier defender of free speech, due process, and academic freedom in higher education, FIRE is expanding its free speech mission beyond campus. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression’s (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.
The $75 million expansion initiative will focus on three main areas of programming: litigation, public education, and research. As part of its expansion initiative, FIRE is also launching a $10 million nationwide advertising campaign to promote a culture of free expression. The campaign, Faces of Free Speech, launched on June 6th and will last throughout the remainder of 2022. The campaign will reach Americans through robust national cable television, digital, and billboard advertising.
TV and Digital Advertising
We're bringing FIRE's defense of free expression to the American people through a major cable televsison and digital video campaign. We're showcasing the individuals who have fought against censorship with the assistance of FIRE.
Free speech makes free people.
America needs a new nonpartisan defender of free speech. That’s why the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education is now the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
University asks student to remove BLM flag
Montana State University student Stefan Klaer and his roommates displayed a Black Lives Matter flag in their dorm window. But then they received notices from their school to take the flag down.
College suspends student group for criticizing China’s government
In October 2021, Emerson College suspended a campus chapter of conservative student group Turning Point USA after members passed out stickers critical of China’s government.
When standing up means taking a knee
Nate Boyer, a Green Beret in the U.S. Army, fought for our rights in Iraq and Afghanistan. NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick reached out — would Boyer kneel with him?
Professor investigated for criticizing Chinese government during COVID
Tom Smith taught at the University of San Diego School of Law for 30 years. But a blog post criticizing the Chinese government for inaction investigating the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic spurred student complaints — and a university investigation.
Billboards
To spread our free speech message far and wide, we’re putting billboards up in Times Square, Chicago, Los Angeles, and many more major metro areas nationwide. To see if there are any near you, explore the map showing all of our billboard locations.
Examples of the FIRE's Faces of Free speech billboard designs.
In the Media
- Free-speech group will spend millions to promote First Amendment cases (Politico)
- The ACLU Just Got Some Much-Needed Free Speech Competition (The Daily Beast)
- Foundation for Individual Rights in Education Expands into Off-Campus Advocacy (National Review)
- FIRE to Expand Beyond Colleges, Renames Itself Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (Diverse: Issues In Higher Education)
- A Free-Speech Group Known for Campus Interventions Wants to Be Bigger (The Chronicle of Higher Education)
- Education free speech group FIRE rebrands to expand mission (Washington Examiner)
- Foundation for Individual Rights in Education Renames Itself, Will Broaden Focus (Legal Insurrection)
- Greg Lukianoff: Saving the 'Culture of Free Speech' (Reason)
- Is It Time to Set the First Amendment on FIRE? (Newsweek)
Press Releases
Support FIRE
Support FIRE’s work with a gift. Help fight for free speech, due process, religious liberty, and freedom of thought by choosing to support the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression with a donation today.