Freedom of Speech and Association

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.

Free Speech

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.

The Latest

News & Commentary
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Five Things to Know When Protesting in D.C.

D.C. is a hub for political expression, and it helps to be prepared. If you're exercising your constitutional right to demonstrate, here are 5 things you should know.
News & Commentary
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Whoever Becomes President, D.C. Must Be Ready to Defend Our Right to Protest

History has taught us that D.C. residents must be ready to protect our fundamental right to protest, regardless of whom voters elect president.
News & Commentary
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Five ways the First Amendment protects your speech – and three ways it does not

D.C. has long been a critical venue for people to express their views, as a place with 700,000 local residents and as the site of the federal government. Here's what to know about our First Amendment rights in D.C.
Press Release
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Court Orders D.C. Transit Authority to Accept and Run Unconsitutionally Rejected Ads

U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia today ordered the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (“WMATA”) to accept and run four advertisements that it had unconstitutionally rejected. The court ruled that WMATA’s ban on issue ads violates the First Amendment
Issue Areas: Freedom of Speech and Association
Court Case
Apr 16, 2025

Mahoney v. U.S. Capitol Police Board – Defending Courts’ Authority To Enjoin a Law that Facially Violates the First Amendment

Court Case
Mar 26, 2025

STAINNAK V. TRUMP – CHALLENGING PURGE OF DEI-ASSOCIATED FEDERAL WORKERS AS DISCRIMINATORY AND RETALIATORY FOR PERCEIVED POLITICAL BELIEFS

Federal employees filed a complaint against the Trump administration for targeting workers, especially people of color, women, and non-binary workers, for participating in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) activities, violating their First Amendment rights.
Court Case
Apr 24, 2024

Arab Student Union of Jackson-Reed High School v. District of Columbia - Challenging suppression of pro-Palestinian student speech

The Arab Student Union’s activities would not be disruptive; they are the same kinds of activities in which other student clubs engage. Their speech has been suppressed because the school does not want their viewpoint to be heard.
Court Case
Dec 12, 2023

WALLBUILDERS V. WMATA – CHALLENGING METRO POLICY OF BANNING CONTROVERSIAL ADVERTISEMENTS

In this case, we argue that WMATA’s advertising guidelines violate the First Amendment, which prohibits government agencies from discriminating against private speech based on its viewpoint or from applying rules that so vague they can’t be applied consistently.