About FIRE

The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression educates all Americans about their rights to free speech and free thought, with a continued emphasis on the individual rights of students and faculty members on American campuses.

FIRE’s mission is to defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought — the most essential qualities of liberty. FIRE educates Americans about the importance of these inalienable rights, promotes a culture of respect for these rights, and provides the means to preserve them.

FIRE recognizes that colleges and universities play a vital role in preserving free thought within a free society. To this end, we place a special emphasis on defending the individual rights of students and faculty members on our nation’s campuses, including freedom of speech, freedom of association, due process, legal equality, religious liberty, and sanctity of conscience.

Proven success defending your rights

“FIRE’s been with me through a whole year of turmoil in resolving student rights for myself and our student publication. They’ve done advocacy work at the beginning, drafting letters to outline the complaints and to move the university to action.”
MORE HERE

Jared Nallyrecent graduate of Haskell Indian Nations University

“FIRE took me seriously and eagerly fought to defend my First Amendment rights. So I say to FIRE: Keep up the good work!"
MORE HERE

Edward Sistudent at Eastern Virginia Medical School

FIRE’s Student Activists

Interested in what students are doing on campus? Check out our student highlights to read about the activism work that members of our FIRE Student Network have accomplished.