Defending the Free Speech of all Marylanders

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It is no accident that freedom of speech is protected in the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances."  

The Constitution's framers believed that freedom of inquiry and liberty of expression were the hallmarks of a democratic society.

But historically, at times of national stress -- real or imagined -- First Amendment rights come under enormous pressure. During the Red Scare" of the early 1920s, thousands were deported for their political views. During the McCarthy period, the infamous blacklist ruined lives and careers. Today, the creators, producers and distributers of popular culture are often blamed for the nation’s deep social problems. Calls for censorship threaten to erode free speech.

The First Amendment exists precisely to protect the most offensive and controversial speech from government suppression. The best way to counter obnoxious speech is with more speech. Persuasion, not coercion, is the solution.

The ACLU of Maryland began protecting rights under the First Amendment in the 1930s. We are still fighting today.

Learn about your "Right to Protest"
Check out the ACLU of Maryland's Defenders of Free Speech Campaign to protect the free speech rights of dissenters in these troubling times