“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

The first amendment, colloquially known as freedom of speech and freedom of expression, is the crown jewel of the US Constitution. It protects our right to express ourselves, advocate for our beliefs, and hold the government accountable for wrongs. Yet, ironically, the text of the constitution is inert. It cannot speak for itself nor can it defend itself from governmental overreach. It is up to us to defend the first amendment. We treat each encroachment as a violation of the foundation of American life.

Violations of the first amendment take many forms, including:

• Police violating your right to protest

• State or federal agents limiting your right to record them in a public space

• Governmental retaliation for political speech

• Governmental agencies refusing to disclose certain information to the public

• Prisons and jails withholding information to which you are entitled

If your first amendment rights have been violated, contact us immediately.