Freedom of Expression

The ACLU of Maine is committed to protecting and expanding First Amendment freedoms through its work on a variety of issues including political protest, online expression and journalists' rights.

Freedom of Expression Collage

What you need to know

1920s

Since the 1920s, the ACLU has been involved in virtually all of the landmark speech cases to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

1933

A nationwide ban on "Ulysses," a novel by James Joyce, was lifted in 1933 following an ACLU challenge.

1997

In a landmark 1997 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed with the ACLU’s argument that the Internet itself is a free-speech zone.

Our client was blocked from a public event in Bangor, simply for criticizing Vice President Vance online. We're suing.

Freedom of speech, the press, association, assembly, and petition: This set of guarantees, protected by the First Amendment, comprises what we refer to as freedom of expression. It is the foundation of a vibrant democracy, and without it, other fundamental rights, like the right to vote, would wither away.

The ACLU of Maine is committed to protecting and expanding First Amendment freedoms that allow people to speak their minds, challenge those in power, protest injustice, and fully participate in democracy.

We work in the courts, at the State House, and with communities across Maine to defend these rights. We challenge government censorship and retaliation, educate people on their right to protest and demonstrate, defend free speech in schools and public institutions, and fight efforts to restrict access to books, ideas, and information.

Freedom of expression is the matrix, the indispensable condition, of nearly every other form of freedom.

—

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo in Palko v. Connecticut

Featured Cases

Know Your Rights: Freedom of Expression

The Latest

News & Commentary
McGonigle v Curran

Case Closed: First Amendment Win for Cat Jokes and Criticizing Public Officials

We sued the government for denying a critic access to official events open for public registration. Now we have the government on record committing to treat her like anyone else.
Press Release
McGonigle v Curran

Government Recognizes CatsOnACouch Creator’s Right to Attend Public Events

In a court filing, the government stated it will treat Amanda McGonigle like anyone else when she attends official vice-presidential events and will not prevent people from attending such events based on their protected speech.
Issue Areas: Freedom of Expression
Court Cases: McGonigle v. Curran – Free Speech at Government Events
News & Commentary
Banned Book Image

The Freedom to Read: Defending Libraries and Democracy Against Book Bans in Maine

This Banned Books Week, we’re celebrating the freedom to read – because democracy depends on open access to ideas.
News & Commentary
Ryan Adams Headshot

Celebrating Maine Artist Ryan Adams, Our 33rd Justice Scolnik Award Recipient

Join us on November 19 to celebrate Ryan and his work championing and amplifying civil rights issues across Maine through free expression.

Cases, Campaigns & Legislation

Court Case
Aug 13, 2026

AAUP v. Rubio – Freedom of Association

The federal government has targeted noncitizen students and faculty by arresting, detaining, and deporting them in retaliation for their pro-Palestinian activism. This is a coordinated attempt to chill their First Amendment rights to freedom of speech and assembly.
Court Case
Jul 21, 2026

Harvard v. Health and Human Services – Academic Freedom

The federal government threatened to withhold billions of dollars in research funding from Harvard University after the school refused to adopt the government’s preferred ideological approach to who it admits to study, who it employs to teach, and what classes and other programs it offers.
Court Case
Oct 6, 2026

McGonigle v. Curran – Free Speech at Government Events

The government cannot ban people from public events just because elected officials can't handle their jokes. We sued the federal government for retaliating against our client by blocking her from an official, taxpayer-funded public event simply because she criticizes Vice President Vance online.
Court Case
Feb 27, 2026

Hussey v. Cambridge – Free Speech of Public Employees

We filed an amicus brief urging a federal appeals court to apply the correct test to determine if a Massachusetts police officer’s comments are protected by the First Amendment.