Truthout
Free Speech
![Charles Koch, head of Koch Industries, speaks in a file photo from February 26, 2007.](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2021/11/2021_1108-charles-koch-400x300.jpg)
Koch Funding for Campuses Comes With Dangerous Strings Attached
The funding is a blatant effort to steer curricula and hiring to funnel students into careers with conservative groups.
![General view of San Diego's Pride Flag at She Fest on July 10, 2021, in San Diego, California.](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2021/10/GettyImages-1328075048-400x300.jpg)
Some School Districts Are Banning Pride Flags as Political Speech
Experts say forcing teachers to take down Pride flags could hurt the well-being of students.
![An activist, who declined to provide their name, speaks outside the Supreme Court in protest against the new Texas abortion law that prohibits the procedure around six weeks into a pregnancy on September 2, 2021, in Washington, D.C.](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2021/09/GettyImages-1235022404-1-400x300.jpg)
Texas Abortion Law Will Chill Online Advocacy Efforts for Reproductive Rights
The law could be used to silence those who seek to provide truthful information about reproductive options.
![Britain's forward Georgia Stanway, left, and midfielder Keira Walsh take a knee before the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games women's group E first round football match between Great Britain and Chile at the Sapporo Dome in Sapporo on July 21, 2021.](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2018/05/2021_0721-olympics-football-knee-400x300.jpg)
Tokyo Olympics Social Media Teams Are Forbidden From Showing Athletes Kneeling
The ban was brought on by the decision of women's soccer teams earlier this week to kneel in protest against racism.
![Gwendolyn Berry (left), turns away from U.S. flag during the U.S. national anthem on June 26, 2021 in Eugene, Oregon. In 2019, the USOPC reprimanded Berry after her demonstration on the podium at the Lima Pan American Games.](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2021/07/GettyImages-1325686085-400x300.jpg)
Olympics Needs to End Restrictions on Free Speech of Athletes
Olympics athletes are defending their right to protest against racism, police violence and human rights violations.
![](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2018/05/SEG1-Assange-400x300.jpg)
Key Witness in US Case Against Julian Assange Admits to Lying to Get Immunity
“The factual basis for this case has completely fallen apart,” says human rights attorney Jennifer Robinson.
![President Donald Trump, with Attorney General William Barr, speaks during a discussion in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., on September 23, 2020.](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2018/05/2021_0622-trump-barr-400x300.jpg)
Trump Wanted Justice Department to Stop TV Hosts, “SNL” From Making Fun of Him
Trump apparently did not understand that satire was protected speech and repeatedly asked for something to be done.
![Police arrest a pro-Palestinian demonstrator at a rally against recent Israeli airstrikes on Gaza and repression of Palestinian protesters in Jerusalem on May 14, 2021, in New York City.](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2021/06/GettyImages-1318037929-scaled-e1622739172370-400x300.jpg)
Police Are Backing Bills That Make It Easier to Crush Nonviolent Protests
Police, their unions and lobbyists have supported one or more “anti-riot” bills in at least 14 states since last June.
![Donald Trump](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2021/05/2021_0505-donald-trump-400x300.jpg)
Facebook Board Announces Trump Remains Banned. Trump Starts His Own “Platform.”
The decision is a blow to Trump, who leans on Facebook for the massive fundraising pool it provides.
![A Milwaukee Brewers player wears a Black Lives Matter shirt during warmups on August 5, 2020, at Guaranteed Rate Field in Chicago, Illinois.](https://truthout.org/app/uploads/2018/05/2021_0504-black-lives-matter-baseball-400x300.jpg)
Olympics Committee Accused of Racism for “Black Lives Matter” Ban at Tokyo Games
The decision comes as the IOC reaffirms its controversial “Rule 50” that bans political speech among athletes.