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Each year, FIREreviews thousands of potential cases involving individuals and groups whose rights are threatened. ��ýapp�ٷ�’s team of legal and advocacy experts have decades of experience protecting free speech both on and off college campuses. Learn more about ��ýapp�ٷ�’s civil liberties cases.

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Case Archive

53Cases

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Kingsborough Community College: President Cancels Hillel Event Due to Planned Protests

Kingsborough Community College President Concedes to Hecklers’ Veto in Lieu of Taking Steps to Ensure Event Can Proceed

Advocacy

University of Texas at Austin

University of Texas at Austin: Riot Police Forcibly Disperse Peaceful Protesters, Arresting More Than 50 People

The University of Texas at Austin, at the direction of the Texas governor, acted to ban protesters based on their viewpoint.

Advocacy closed

Montgomery College

Montgomery College: Film Screening Canceled Following President’s Condemnation

Montgomery College president’s 11th hour public condemnation of film screening chills speech on campus.

Advocacy closed

Indiana University - Bloomington

Indiana University: Committee Changes Tents Policy on Eve of Planned Protest

Upon learning of a planned Gaza solidarity protest, Indiana University convened an over night committee to ban tents, targeting protestors’ expression.

Advocacy

The Ohio State University

Ohio State University: Student Group Suspended After Social Media Post Accused It of Supporting Terrorism

OSU’s disproportionate punishment for de minimis policy violations suggests selective enforcement.

FIRE Victory Advocacy

Columbia University

Columbia University: Student Senate Denies Recognition to Law FIREAgainst Anti-Semitism Group

Columbia Law School Student Senate eventually grants recognition to group but only after initially denying it over the group’s proposed definition of anti-Semitism.

FIRE Victory Advocacy closed

University of Rochester

University of Rochester: University Punishes Pro-Palestinian Slogan, Eliminates Opportunities for Spontaneous Expression

University publicly announces use of a specific pro-Palestinian phrase violates its code of conduct, regardless of intent.

Advocacy

Brandeis University

Brandeis University: University Shuts Down Protest Against De-Recognition of FIREfor Justice in Palestine, Arrests Protesters

Brandeis justifies shutdown based on ‘invocation of hate speech’

Advocacy closed

DeRay Mckesson v. John Doe

In July 2016, protests unfolded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, after local police shot and killed Alton Sterling, a 37-year-old black man. It was the first of two high-profile police shootings of black men within several days, capturing the nation’s attention and fueling large demonstrations. DeRay Mckesson, a civil-rights activist, helped stage one of those protests.

Amicus Brief

University of Vermont

University of Vermont: University Forces Event Featuring Palestinian Writer to Move Fully Online

Citing unspecified, unsubstantiated security concerns, university forces event to move online.

Advocacy closed

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Help When You Need It Most

Case Archive

Kingsborough Community College: President Cancels Hillel Event Due to Planned Protests

University of Texas at Austin: Riot Police Forcibly Disperse Peaceful Protesters, Arresting More Than 50 People

Montgomery College: Film Screening Canceled Following President’s Condemnation

Indiana University: Committee Changes Tents Policy on Eve of Planned Protest

Ohio State University: Student Group Suspended After Social Media Post Accused It of Supporting Terrorism

Columbia University: Student Senate Denies Recognition to Law FIREAgainst Anti-Semitism Group

University of Rochester: University Punishes Pro-Palestinian Slogan, Eliminates Opportunities for Spontaneous Expression

Brandeis University: University Shuts Down Protest Against De-Recognition of FIREfor Justice in Palestine, Arrests Protesters

DeRay Mckesson v. John Doe

University of Vermont: University Forces Event Featuring Palestinian Writer to Move Fully Online

Featured Litigation Cases

JUSTICE: Judge throws out criminal charge against Arizona mom arrested for criticizing a city attorney’s pay

Press Release

VICTORY: Federal appeals court rules tweeting about Cardi B shouldn’t get a graduate student expelled

Press Release

Animal rights advocates sue after facing ongoing censorship and arrest for peaceful advocacy in Houston public park

Press Release

Featured Advocacy Cases

Baraboo, Wisconsin: Board of Education proposes unconstitutional “Anti-Hate Speech” policy

case

University of Florida: University orders last-minute cancellation of symposium on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict

University of Florida

University of Wisconsin-La Crosse: Attempt to Terminate Tenured Professor for Making Pornography Outside of Work

University of Wisconsin - La Crosse

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