The First Amendment protects our freedom to speak, assemble, and associate with others. These rights are essential to our democratic system of governance. The Supreme Court has written that freedom of expression is "the matrix, the indispensable condition of nearly every other form of freedom." Without it, other fundamental rights, like the right to vote, would cease to exist. Since its founding, the ACLU has advocated for broad protection of our First Amendment rights in times of war and peace, to ensure that the marketplace of ideas remains vigorous and unrestricted.
Freedom of Speech and Association
Black Lives Matter D.C. v. Trump – Challenging Federal Officers’ Unprovoked Attack on Civil Rights Demonstrators at Lafayette Square in Front of the White House
June 4, 2020D.C. Public Schools Student Technology Responsible Use Agreement
May 11, 2020Blades v. United States - Asserting Public Right of Access to Full Jury-Selection Proceedings in Criminal Trials
July 11, 2019
The Latest
D.C. Police Officers Coordinated with Federal Law Enforcement to...
July 8, 2020
Trump Administration Drops Unconstitutional Anti-Protest Proposal
October 28, 2019
Federal Court Rules ACLU-DC Lawsuit on Behalf of Inauguration Day...
September 27, 2019
ACLU-DC Names 27 D.C. Police Officers and Adds 10-Year-Old Boy as...
January 3, 2018
ACLU-DC Files Motion to Reconsider in Facebook Warrant Challenge
November 16, 2017
Know Your Rights: Federal Employee Speech & the First Amendment
November 9, 2017
Federal Employee Speech & the First Amendment: A Know-Your-Rights...
November 8, 2017