Table of Contents
K-12 Videos
Research & Learn
A History of Free Speech (music video)
“The History of Free Speech” tells the story of the essential role free speech has played — and continues to play — in shaping everything in the modern world, including education, politics, science, and religion.
John Stuart Mill's Trident slays censorship arguments
“Mill’s Trident” refers to a three-part argument that John Stuart Mill made in favor of free speech in his 1859 masterpiece “On Liberty.” It’s an argument every fan (or opponent) of free speech should know.
The Emperor's New Clothes and Independent Thought
Would you speak up if you saw something completely ridiculous? Or would you keep your doubts to yourself? Democracies need their truth-tellers and free societies require independent thinkers able to question convention, resist conformity, and reach their own conclusions. This video explains why speech suppression can cause problems ranging from the laughable to the downright dangerous.
FIRE Starters
These short lessons — each under three minutes in length and featuring First Amendment expert David L. Hudson— encapsulate the key facts and essential rulings in landmark court decisions establishing our modern free speech rights. Building First Amendment literacy means covering the basics, and FIREStarters make complex ideas approachable for younger audiences and busy people. See all of the videos.
'Mighty Ira' Documentary Trailer
Ira Glasser is one of America’s unsung champions of civil rights and liberties. As the leader of the American Civil Liberties Union for 23 years, he transformed the organization from a small, “mom-and-pop” operation on the verge of bankruptcy into a civil liberties juggernaut with offices in every state and a $30 million endowment. As his generation retires from the barricades, Ira reminisces on his life at the forefront of defending the rights of all Americans, from civil rights leaders to neo-Nazis.
