Freedom of Speech

In a victory for free speech, a federal judge dismissed charges against Greenpeace for allegedly violating an antique law of the sea, last used 113 years ago. The case was seen by many as an attempt to selectively prosecute Greenpeace for disagreeing with Bush administration policies.

In an amicus curiae brief filed in the case Rumsfeld v. Padilla with the U.S. Supreme Court, People For the American Way Foundation supports the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit’s decision stating that President Bush cannot indefinitely detain American citizens seized on American soil without Congressional authorization. PFAWF filed this brief in coalition with Human Rights First (formerly the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights) and the right wing Rutherford Institute, a group that usually opposes PFAWF on religious liberty cases and other issues.

Washington, DC – People For the American Way (PFAW) President Ralph G. Neas today condemned congressional efforts to revitalize a constitutional amendment to “protect the flag” as a cynical election-year ploy to divert public attention from pressing issues including the economy, weak job growth and a lack of funding for critical programs, including veterans’ health care.

“Waving the stars and stripes is a convenient distraction from tough issues. Platitudes and posturing are easier than real achievements for veterans and working American families,” said Neas.

An unprecedented collection of 324 national, state, and local environmental, civil rights, civil liberties, women’s rights, public health, social welfare, senior, religious, and social justice organizations today urged the Federal Election Commission to reject an FEC General Counsel draft advisory opinion that could severely restrict the ability of nonprofit organizations to communicate with the public about important policy issues. The FEC is scheduled to consider the opinion at its meeting this Thursday, February 5.

Agreeing with arguments put forward in an amicus brief filed by PFAW Foundation, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit rejected the Bush administration's astonishing claim that it can unilaterally hold an American citizen indefinitely without charge or legal recourse.

Under the direction of Attorney General John Ashcroft, the Department of Justice has undermined the constitutional rights of all Americans as it has prosecuted a war on terrorism since the September 11, 2001 attacks, according to a new report released today by People For the American Way Foundation. At the same time, Ashcroft has continued to press his ideology into practice at the Justice Department, reversing the department’s position in civil rights cases, launching a campaign to threaten the independence of federal judges and second-guessing prosecutors on death penalty cases.

Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ron Wyden (D-OR) yesterday introduced the Protecting the Rights of Individuals (PRI) Act, a bill that would serve as the first broad-based legislative response to the USA Patriot Act passed by Congress in the weeks after September 11, 2001. The bill, which is endorsed by People For the American Way and enjoys support from other groups across the ideological spectrum, could curtail some of the most draconian aspects of the Justice Department’s anti-terrorism work. Few of these efforts have been demonstrated as effective in the fight against terrorism, serving mostly to endanger the privacy and chill the free speech rights of ordinary, innocent Americans.