Introducing The SLAPP Back Initiative

First Amendment Watch is building the first national database of alleged SLAPPs — strategic lawsuits against public participation — potentially meritless or malicious legal actions that can financially cripple and ultimately silence critical voices.

‘No Kings’ Protests Return as Trump Ramps up Authoritarian Practices, Organizers Say

It’s the second “No Kings” protest and third mass movement against the administration this year, and it comes amid an intensifying conflict between federal law enforcement and protesters nationwide.

California Governor Says ‘Democracy Is Under Assault’ by Trump as Feds Intervene in LA Protests

The governor’s speech argued that Trump was not just a threat to democracy, but was actively working to break down its guardrails that reach back to the nation’s founding.

Ex-FBI Agent Sues Over Secret Recording Showing Him Criticizing Trump

Conservative activist James O'Keefe called the lawsuit an “attack on the First Amendment," saying he was prepared to fight it all the way to an appeals court if necessary.

Columbia University Student and the US Government Spar Over His Detention in Louisiana

In court papers over the weekend, lawyers for the Justice Department also blamed his move on overcrowded facilities in the Northeast.

Trump Orders Reflect Promises to Roll Back Transgender Protections, End DEI Programs

The order would also block requirements at government facilities and at workplaces that trans people be referred to using the pronouns that align with their gender.

Disney Hopes Prosecutor’s Free Speech Case Against DeSantis Helps Its Own

A decision last week by a three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals revived a First Amendment challenge by former prosecutor Andrew Warren.

Salman Rushdie Delivers Keynote Address at National First Amendment Summit

The celebrated author and free speech advocate warned of the rise of global authoritarianism in virtual remarks delivered on Wednesday.