In communities across Illinois, loud and activated groups are attempting to limit First Amendment rights and silence marginalized voices. They do this by pushing local community library boards, school boards, and other public bodies and officials to ban books, events, and other protected expression based on its content. But when the government bans speech based on the content it expresses, that is censorship, and it is unconstitutional.
Your local elected officials should be defending free speech rights guaranteed by the First Amendment. The ACLU of Illinois issued an open letter to local public officials explaining their responsibilities as elected officials to protect everyone’s rights – even when faced with loud opposition.
But it can be difficult for local elected officials to uphold these fundamental rights when the groups calling to limit speech and equal access are the only ones who speak out and show up at public meetings, often claiming to speak for an entire community. When free speech rights are being threatened in your community, each of us need to show up.
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