Free speech news roundup: Stories on civil liberties and bridging divides

Throughout our country’s history, we have benefited from free speech and a variety of perspectives. America is stronger when her people can engage with different ideas and come together to work toward solutions to our challenges.

While polarization and division in our country may seem overwhelming now, Stand Together partners share the fundamental belief that people can grow stronger – not in spite of our differences but because of them. And free expression clears the way for people to collaborate across our divides.

So, if you’re craving more free speech in your media diet, check out this menu of options from our community’s FS&P partners:

• National Constitution Center (NCC) president Jeff Rosen writes in The Atlantic this week, making the case for why Elon Musk’s promise to apply First Amendment principles to Twitter’s private platform is worthy of praise.
• In an essay for Persuasion, FIRE president Greg Lukianoff explores the history of unconstitutional speech codes and how they’ve worked to the detriment of their stated goals as well as student’s ability to engage with diverse ideas.
• Can the Constitution help Americans play a role in solving polarization? NCC thinks so. And they’re showing how through an innovative K-12 program. The Associated Press covers the results in a recent story: “How the Constitution teaches students to disagree civilly”
• In a piece titled “What is Pluralism?” Daniel Stid – a leader in philanthropy and one of the original founding partners of the New Pluralists funder collaborative — lays out what pluralism is, explains its value, and provides 4 steps that Americans can take to realize the values of pluralism in our public life.

For more on pluralism, read this piece by Free Speech & Peace Vice President Sarah Ruger on why optimism remains today for society characterized by respect, civil debate, and continued progress.

Learn more about Stand Together’s free speech and peace efforts.