The United States public has lost its connection with the First Amendment, leaving protected speech more vulnerable than ever before in modern history.
That’s why Campaign for Free Speech was created.
Recent polling results show that nearly 80% of Americans don’t understand the basics on what the First Amendment protects, while free speech and free press continues to be threatened in the courts, Congress, and in our culture.
CFS is dedicated to ensuring that all Americans may use their First Amendment rights to express ideas responsibly; a cornerstone of liberty and democracy in the United States.
We believe that it is only through the ability to discuss, debate, and criticize ideas that we as a society can come to evolve and advance them.
CFS stands as a vehicle to reinvigorate the nation’s understanding of free speech and freedom of the press; to remind us why the First Amendment is first.
Polling Shows Threat to Free Speech in the US
The Campaign for Free Speech recently commissioned a nationally recognized polling agency to conduct a series of polls on free speech issues never before examined in countrywide polls. The results revealed the lack of understanding and valuation of the First Amendment and free speech protection.
Some of the official CFS polling results include:
- 51% of Americans think the First Amendment is ‘outdated’ and should be rewritten
- 78% of Americans do not understand the basics of what the First Amendment actually does and protects
- 36% of Americans support the creation of a government entity to police speech in podcasts
- 25% of Americans believe that jail time is an appropriate response to speech considered to be “hate speech”
You can see the full results and much more for yourself here.
About the Campaign for Free Speech
The Campaign for Free Speech is a pending 501(c)(3) organization based in Washington, D.C., founded by a group of free speech advocates and professionals and led by accomplished First Amendment attorney Robert Lystad. See our FAQ page for more information.
Robert D. Lystad, Executive Director
Bob Lystad is a media lawyer and former journalist. He was recognized in Chambers USA as one of the nation’s leading attorneys in the media and entertainment industry. He is an inductee into the National Freedom of Information Act Hall of Fame, and is a two-time recipient of the Society of Professional Journalists’ First Amendment Award.
Bob has handled defamation, invasion of privacy, and copyright infringement actions for local and national media organizations. Most recently he ran the claims department for one of the nation’s leading providers of media and intellectual property insurance.
