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.
Free speech study finds surprising similarities between 'very liberal' and 'very conservative' Americans
They may not agree on much, but Americans who identify as “very liberal” or “very conservative” have strikingly similar attitudes toward free speech, according to a new FIRE survey.
NYU's crackdown on affinity graduations solves a problem that isn't there
New York University canceled 13 affinity ceremonies and restricted student-run alternatives — after the federal anti-DEI directive was already dead.
Countries are hiding censorship in 'cybercrime' bills. A UN treaty could make things worse.
Countries are disguising censorship as "cybercrime," and a new UN treaty could help authoritarian governments export that repression worldwide.
The romance of fair use and fiction
Publishers are turning popular fanfiction into bestselling novels. Changing the names is easy. And copyright law may make the rest easier than you think.