October 22 – 28, 2012
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Join Us

From bloggers, artists, and high school students to civic groups, radio stations and universities - Free Speech Week is for you!

Here are some ideas how you can celebrate!

FSW ’11 Activities

The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression posted this on the wall of the First Amendment Monument in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Routledge, Taylor & Francis offered free access to Quarterly Journal of Speech during FSW '11, plus a selection of free articles during the entire month of October. You can visit their website here.

Adam Kissel, Vice President of Programs at FIRE (Foundation for Individual Rights in Education) spoke at two FSW events.
* Sam Houston State University, Oct. 19, 2011
* 2011 Students for Liberty Austin Regional Conference at U. of Texas - Austin, Oct. 22, 2011

For more information about Fire, visit their website here. 

To commemorate FSW, NCA hosted a free teleconference with Joan Mower of the Voice of America on "International Perspective on Free Speech." Learn more about the NCA here.

In celebration, the American Bar Association offered free resources on their website, including First Amendment-related Educator Lesson Plans. Visit the ABA here.

Music Maker Relief Foundation held their annual Capitol Blues night in celebration of FSW 2011. www.musicmaker.org

Partners

A Partnering Organization is any group that would like to publicize Free Speech Week and to promote free speech through one or more activities. For this year's Partnering Organizations, click here.

Become a Partner

Becoming a Partnering Organization can
be as simple as posting the official FSW
logo on your website. And - it’s free.
Click here to get started.

Download the official FSW logo and tagline

Massachusetts Governor Patrick Proclaims October 17-21 Freedom of Speech Week

On October 17th, 2011, FSW Partnering Organization PACTV announced that Massachusetts Governor Deval L. Patrick signed a Proclamation declaring the third week of October Freedom of Speech Week! The Proclamation was presented to the PACTV Board of Directors, staff and volunteers by Senate President Therese Murray, Representative Vinny deMacedo and Representative Tom Calter.

(L to R) Chris Querze (PACTV volunteer), Tamson Burgress (PACTV Board President), Nancy Richard (Executive Director, PACTV), Senate President Therese Murray, Representative Vinny deMacedo, and Representative Tom Calter.

On Oct. 18, The Media Institute celebrated Free Speech Week at its annual black-tie awards banquet in Washington, D.C., on Oct. 18. The Institute bestowed its Freedom of Speech Award upon FCC Commissioner Robert M. McDowell.

Furman University President Rodney A. Smolla (left) presents the Freedom of Speech award to Commissioner McDowell

On October 17, Assistant Professor Joseph Russomanno of ASU's Walter Cronkite School and Professor James Weinstein of ASU's Sandra Day O'Connor College of Law commemorated FSW as part of their Must See Mondays series in the First Amendment Forum. Read more about their presentation here.
Media Institute Holds First Amendment Seminar in D.C. The Media Institute and its First Amendment Advisory Council convened a seminar in Washington on Oct. 4 to explore First Amendment issues. The morning began with a keynote address by noted First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams.... Click here to read more

Forum

While Free Speech Week is an annual celebration, free speech-related issues are worthy of discussion throughout the year. Check back often for classroom discussion topics - or to join the debate.

NABEF 2011 PSA Student Contest

"What Does Freedom of Speech Mean to Me?"

First Place: Jenna James, Ball State University

To see all the winners and read more about this yearly contest presented by the National Association of Broadcasters Educational Foundation (NABEF) in partnership with the Broadcast Education Association (BEA) and sponsored by the McCormick Foundation, click here.

Watch the video the public access TV station of Oahu, Hawai'i posted in honor of FSW '11 and read more about how they practice free speech every day here.

Reason TV asks: "What's the biggest threat to free speech?"