Topics: Groups and Organizations

• Abolitionists and Free Speech

  Before the Civil War, pro-slavery legislators attempted to squelch anti-slavery speech and writing through gag rules and other anti-First Amendment measures...

• Adult Film Association of America

  The Adult Film Association of America was founded as the first trade association of pornographic film producers, working to defend the First Amendment rights of...

• Alliance Defending Freedom

  The Alliance Defending Freedom is a conservative Christian organization dedicated to issues connected to First Amendment religious freedom and family...

• American Association of University Professors

  The American Association of University Professors represents the interests of academics and provides assistance to protect the First Amendment academic freedom...

• American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression

  The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression promotes the free exchange of ideas by defending the First Amendment rights of booksellers against...

• American Center for Law and Justice

  The American Center for Law and Justice, the legal advocacy arm of religious conservatives, litigates issues of First Amendment religious freedom and “family...

• American Civil Liberties Union

  The American Civil Liberties Union states as its mission the protection and preservation of First Amendment rights, equal protection under the law, and the...

• American Friends Service Committee

  The American Friends Service Committee, founded in 1917, has been active in defending civil rights and civil liberties, and is a vocal proponent of First...

• American Library Association

  The American Library Association supports the First Amendment rights of freedom of speech and press as they pertain to libraries, librarians, and library...

• American Nazi Party and Related Groups

  The American Nazi Party is one of several hundred white supremacist groups in the United States whose words and actions have tested the limits of the First...

• American Society of News Editors

  The American Society of News Editors concerns itself with issues of importance to newspaper editors and journalism in general, including First Amendment issues...

• Americans United for Separation of Church and State

  Americans United for Separation of Church and State is committed to separation of government and religious institutions. AU has been involved in several First...

• Anti-Federalists

  The opposition of the Anti-Federalists to the 1787 U.S. Constitution without a bill of rights was an important factor leading to the adoption of the First...

• Christian Legal Society

  The Christian Legal Society maintains the Center for Law and Religious Freedom in Washington D.C., which has filed numerous briefs in First Amendment cases...

• Citizens for Decent Literature

  Citizens for Decent Literature worked to stop the sale of obscenity and filed briefs in anti-pornography cases. Non-obscene pornography is protected by the...

• Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

  The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund defends comic book and graphic novel writers who sometimes are prosecuted under obscenity regulations. Courts have often...

• Commission on Obscenity and Pornography

  The Commission on Obscenity and Pornography told Congress to focus on restricting juvenile access to pornography, instead of focusing on consenting adults...

• Committee on Public Information

  The Committee on Public Information was the first large-scale propaganda agency of the U.S. government and was viewed by some as stifling First Amendment-...

• Communist Party of the United States

  The development of First Amendment free speech and association rights in the United States owes much to the battle against the Communism Party of America...

• Eagle Forum

  The Eagle Forum is a conservative women’s group founded in 1972 by Phyllis Schlafly. The organization has aligned with both conservative and liberal views on...

• Electronic Frontier Foundation

  The Electronic Frontier Foundation was founded in 1990 as a civil liberties group advocating for First Amendment rights in digital and other new technologies...

• Electronic Privacy Information Center

  The Electronic Privacy Information Center advocates for First Amendment freedoms of speech and privacy, particularly in new media such as the Internet and...

• Federalists

  Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution and compromised by adding a Bill of Rights, including the First Amendment, to the Constitution...

• First Amendment Center

  The First Amendment Center seeks to protect First Amendment freedoms through information and education. It provides a forum for dialogue on First Amendment...

• First Amendment Lawyers Association

  The First Amendment Lawyers Association has primarily defended clients in the adult-entertainment industry in First Amendment cases before the Supreme Court...

• First Amendment Project

  The First Amendment Project is a nonprofit law firm that advocates on behalf of free expression values. The organization litigates on a variety of First...

• First Liberty Institute

  First Liberty Institute provides free legal services and support to those dealing with religious liberty issues. It has expanded into religious liberty...

• Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression

  Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression began as an organization to protect free speech rights of college students. It has campaigned against speech...

• Free Expression Network

  The Free Expression Network is an alliance of groups seeking to protect the First Amendment right of free expression and to oppose suppression of protected...

• Free Speech League

  The Free Speech League was the first organization in U.S. history to commit itself to First Amendment free expression, no matter the subject or viewpoint...

• Ku Klux Klan

  Although some Supreme Court decisions have allowed prosecution of the Ku Klux Klan for terrorist activity, others have affirmed the First Amendment rights of...

• Media Institute

  The Media Institute is a Washington D.C.-based nonprofit organization that specializes in publications on First Amendment issues in the communications arena...

• Media Law Resource Center

  The Media Law Resource Center is a nonprofit that was formed “to monitor developments and promote First Amendment rights in the libel, privacy and related...

• National Coalition Against Censorship

  The National Coalition Against Censorship serves as a hub for groups and individuals combating censorship. It focuses on three activities: action, advocacy, and...

• National Press Club

  The National Press Club, founded in 1908 and open to all who supply news, has sought to keep First Amendment issues front and center in the public eye...

• PEN American Center

  The PEN American Center annually awards those who fight for First Amendment values and opposes the Patriot Act, even delivering a "press freedom petition" to...

• People for the American Way

  People for the American Way is a progressive advocacy group that has become involved in First Amendment cases advocating for religious liberty and separation of...

• Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

  The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press has played an important role in many controversies over First Amendment press freedom and freedom of...

• Rutherford Institute

  The Rutherford Institute is concerned with First Amendment freedom and provides legal help to those who believe their constitutional rights have been violated...

• Student Press Law Center

  The Student Press Law Center is a not-for-profit corporation dedicated to defending the First Amendment rights of high school and college journalists...

• Students for a Democratic Society

  The civil activism of Students for a Democratic Society, a radical youth group, frequently led to the exercise of First Amendment freedoms in conflict with...

• Students for a Democratic Society
• Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression

  The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression is a nonprofit organization that is devoted to defending the principles of free expression...

• White Supremacists and White Nationalists

  Members of white supremacists and white national groups have tested the limits of the First Amendment through hate speech and threatening demonstrations...