Table of Contents
FIRE statement on Office for Civil Rights’ use of ‘anti-Semitism’ definition
FIRE is deeply disappointed by the decision of the Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR) to reopen an investigation into a 2011 complaint against Rutgers University utilizing a definition of anti-Semitism that threatens speech protected by the First Amendment. The definition’s inherent vagueness allows for the investigation and punishment of core political speech. This is an unacceptable result.
FIRE has clearly and consistently opposed the use of this problematic definition in both university policy and legislation at the state and federal level. We do so again today.
Recent Articles
Get the latest free speech news and analysis from FIRE.
UK government admits the obvious: Free countries shouldn’t police legal speech
UK scraps “non-crime hate incidents,” but vague rules remain — as similar speech-policing quietly takes shape in the U.S.
Is it safe to use Signal?
The encrypted messaging app Signal is back in the news — and this time, people are asking: Will using it get me arrested?
Finnish Supreme Court fines politician for hate speech over religious pamphlet
From Finland to Hong Kong, governments tighten speech controls: fines, arrests, and surveillance raise global alarms over expression.
VICTORY: School district reverses suspension of student punished over pro-ICE poster
After intervention by FIRE, a California school district has expunged its suspension of a high school junior for putting up a pro-ICE poster.