Free Speech

December 11, 2018

An Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn centenary

On this day in 1918, Russian writer and historian Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was born in Kislovodsk, Russia, to Taisia and Isaaki Solzhenitsyn, parents of peasant stock who had received a university education. Continue Reading...

September 20, 2018

Freer markets, freer press: Study explores the connections between economic liberty and press freedom

At a time when so-called “democratic socialism” is rising in prominence, we are accustomed to hearing about the supposed compatibility of socialism and political freedom. Not only is the dismantling of economic freedom compatible with democracy—we are told—but it is essential to its survival. Continue Reading...

June 29, 2018

Pope affirms freedom of press while Myanmar journalists remain jailed

Freedom of the press is a crucial component to a virtuous, flourishing society, as Pope Francis affirmed on June 20 when he called for greater liberty for the press. The pope’s comments come six months into the detention of two Reuters reporters by the Myanmar government. Continue Reading...

June 27, 2018

If Masterpiece Cakeshop has right to associate, so does the Red Hen

When the owners of the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Virginia asked White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders to leave because she works for President Trump, the mob of public opinion on both sides promptly took up their torches, pitchforks, and Twitter accounts. Continue Reading...

June 21, 2018

What can I possibly (and practically) do to help fight human rights violations?

My head is swimming with thoughts, my heart filled with emotion, and my coffee is getting cold next to me. I opened my social media this morning and no matter where I go, all my feeds are bursting with news of violations of human rights and dignity taking place in all corners of the globe – far away and right next door. Continue Reading...

June 20, 2018

Supreme Court smacks down liberal double standard on free speech

Last week the Supreme Court struck down a Minnesota law that banned voters from going to the polls while wearing T-shirts, buttons and similar items containing politically charged messages. On the surface the issue may seem to be a trivial matter—at best a minor win for self-expression. Continue Reading...

November 01, 2017

Americans would probably ban hateful speech—if we could agree on what speech is hateful

A slight majority of Americans oppose banning hateful and offensive speech—but mostly because we can’t agree on what speech is hateful and offensive. That’s a key takeaway from the Cato Institute’s new survey report, “The State of Free Speech and Tolerance in America.” Continue Reading...

May 18, 2017