The rights to free speech, peaceable assembly, and petition are under attack by corporations and powerful individuals. We believe that protestors and those who speak out against these actors should not be silenced through judicial processes that stymie justice and stifle free speech. When corporate interests and wealthy people use the judicial system to silence their critics, we fight back.
To further this work, ICAR leads the Protect the Protest Task Force, a coalition of 25 social justice, environmental, and civil liberties organizations. Learn more about our task force and get help on the Protect the Protest website.
News & Features
- A win for free speech: Greenpeace defeats $100 Million SLAPP lawsuit
- Legal Bullying Tactics: What is a SLAPP?
- Representative Jamie Raskin Introduces Landmark Bill Establishing Federal Anti-SLAPP Statute to Protect First Amendment Rights
- Contact your Member of Congress NOW and tell them to support the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Protection Act of 2022
A win for free speech: Greenpeace defeats $100 Million SLAPP lawsuit
On April 21st, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California dismissed a seven-year lawsuit against Greenpeace USA and Greenpeace International brought by Resolute Forest Products. Resolute sued Greenpeace after they had exposed the Canadian logging company for their unsustainable forestry practices. This victory reminds us of the importance of free speech in the fight against big oil. It also sends a message to all corporate bullies that we will not be silenced!
Legal Bullying Tactics: What is a SLAPP?
Corporations bully activists, critics and human rights defenders into silence through baseless lawsuits. Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) masquerade as ordinary civil lawsuits, but their true purpose is to drown out criticism by tying up their targets in court. Watch Protect the Protest's short explainer video to learn more about how corporate bullies have used SLAPPs to attack free speech.
Representative Jamie Raskin Introduces Landmark Bill Establishing Federal Anti-SLAPP Statute to Protect First Amendment Rights
Representative Jamie Raskin introduced the first Anti-SLAPP Bill to deter strategic lawsuits against public participation on September 15th, 2022. The SLAPP Protection Act would protect free speech and uphold the integrity of our courts. Read ICAR's statement.
Contact your Member of Congress NOW and tell them to support the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Protection Act of 2022
Corporations are using Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) to silence free speech, prevent us from exposing the damage they're doing to our planet, and potentially shut us down entirely. Congressman Jamie Raskin has introduced the first-ever federal anti-SLAPP legislation to prevent companies from abusing U.S. federal courts to attack our right to free speech. Contact your Member of Congress now and tell them to support the Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation Protection Act of 2022!
