Suppressing speech: The Trump administration's escalating attacks on the First Amendment

Join the Ellsberg Initiative for Peace and Democracy and Freedom of the Press Foundation for an online event discussing the Trump administration's escalating attacks against free speech and the freedom of the press. Expert panelists will discuss long-standing threats, like the arcane Espionage Act and the absence of a federal shield law for journalists. We will also address new concerns, including the Trump administration's increasingly aggressive efforts to prevent citizens from filming immigration agents and a blatantly partisan FCC. Most importantly, we'll talk about how we can most effectively challenge these threats and fortify the First Amendment. We hope you'll join us.

Panelists: 

• Ben Wizner Deputy Legal Director, ACLU
• Jameel Jaffer Director, Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University
• Nora Benavidez Senior Counsel, Free Press 

Moderator: Lauren Harper Freedom of the Press Foundation's Daniel Ellsberg Chair on Government Secrecy

Departmental (co)sponsorship of various types of events does not constitute an endorsement of the views expressed by the presenters, either at the events in question or in other venues. Rather, sponsorship is an endorsement of the exploration of complex and sometimes difficult topics. The UMass History Department is committed to promoting the free and peaceful exchange of ideas, one of the most important functions of the university.