At a time when too many put partisanship over principle, FIRE continues to be a staunchly nonpartisan organization. With threats to expression coming from all sides, FIRE remains firmly planted on the side of free speech. And thanks to the generous support of our donors, we are able to put that principle into practice.
Since its inception in 1999, FIRE has defended thousands of individuals whose free speech rights were violated and secured policy reforms affecting the rights of millions more — all while advancing a culture of free expression.
Are you as fired up as we are about defending free speech? Join the movement with a gift to FIRE today. You’ll stand with more than 10,000 FIRE members who are fueling our mission nationwide.
Since 1999, FIRE has amassed more than 690 victories defending student and faculty rights on more than 300 campuses nationwide.
In 2025, FIRE actively litigated 34 cases.
In 2025, FIRE was mentioned more than 21,500 times in the news media. FIRE is bringing the heat everywhere!
FIRE regularly reaches an audience of more than 1,000,000 email subscribers and social media followers.
Each passing year gets busier and busier for FIRE, and this year was no different. The numbers alone say a lot: With a current caseload of 34 litigation cases and 300 more non-litigation advocacy matters, 50 amicus brief submissions, and 21,500 media mentions (and counting!) under our belt, FIRE is bringing the heat everywhere.
I spent over three decades in law enforcement, and have the utmost respect for the law. But I also know my rights, and I was arrested for nothing more than refusing to be bullied into censorship.
Retired Tennessee law enforcement officer Larry Bushart was arrested for a Facebook post and held on a $2 million bond he could not afford. With support from FIRE, Larry filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against the police for violating his constitutional rights in retaliation for his protected speech. In May 2026, Perry County, Tennessee, settled for $835,000.
When free speech is threatened, FIRE responds — and fast. We use every tool at our disposal to secure justice for those whose rights have been violated, and we hold bad actors accountable. We engage would-be censors through direct advocacy, use media outreach to shine a light on abuse, mobilize the public through take-action campaigns, and when appropriate, we file lawsuits.
Gregory Bombard was arrested for cursing at a cop and giving him the finger during a traffic stop — conduct that is squarely protected by the First Amendment. FIRE sued and won a $175,000 settlement.
After their mayor silenced them for criticizing her during city council meetings, four residents of Eastpointe, Michigan, sued their city and won!
Help us build a new free speech movement and promote a strong culture of free speech by supporting FIRE with a donation today. Please join us in this important work!
Last year, FIRE’s Campus Rights Advocacy team won 48 campus victories on behalf of students, faculty, and student groups whose rights were violated.
In 2025, FIRE’s Policy Reform team won 37 victories at 27 institutions affecting more than 1,049,500 students.
FIRE recognizes that colleges and universities play a vital role in preserving free thought in a free society, which is why we’ve always placed a special emphasis on defending student and faculty rights.
This settlement is a warning to colleges around the country: If you police students’ personal online expression, there will be consequences.
FIRE sued and restored free press rights for student journalist Jared Nally and his peers at Haskell Indian Nations University.
FIRE filed suit against censorious legislation in Florida, securing an injunction against key provisions that the court called “positively dystopian.”
FIRE defeated an attempt by Cornell University’s student assembly to require faculty to warn students before teaching “potentially triggering” content.
University administrators turned me into a pariah on campus because I included a land acknowledgment that wasn’t sufficiently progressive for them.
When Professor Stuart Reges challenged the University of Washington’s position on land acknowledgements, administrators punished him, undermining his academic freedom. He reached out to FIRE, and we took the university to court.
The largest report of its kind, FIRE's 2027 College Free Speech Rankings are based on the voices of 63,000 students at 261 colleges and universities, tracking their perceptions and experiences regarding free speech on campus — because a true university education requires freedom of expression.
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