First Amendment
The First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution outlines five fundamental rights that individuals have with regard to the government: freedom of speech and expression, freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, freedom to petition the government, and freedom of religion.
Learn about the First Amendment's five fundamental rights, and scroll down to explore our work protecting First Amendment rights in Rhode Island through litigation, advocacy, and education.
The Latest
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Protests & Demonstrations
Know your rights when it comes to protests, marches and demonstrations.
RI Midterm Primary Candidate Questions: Civil Liberties Edition
We sent a survey of civil liberties questions to all the candidates running for statewide office (except for Treasurer) that will be on the ballot in the 2026 Rhode Island midterm elections, as well as the Providence mayoral candidates.
Cases, Campaigns & Legislation
Jul 23, 2026
President and Fellows of Harvard College v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Jul 2, 2026
National Alliance to End Homelessness v. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
This is the second case filed by a broad coalition of local governments and nonprofit organizations across the country — including Rhode Island-based nonprofits Crossroads Rhode Island and Youth Pride, Inc. — seeking to stop the Trump-Vance administration from creating unlawful and unreasonable restrictions for funding for proven solutions to homelessness, threatening to push hundreds of thousands of families onto the street as cold winter months arrive. This case was filed regarding the 2026 fiscal year notice of funding opportunities (NOFO).
See NAEH v. HUD (case number: 1:25-cv-00636) for information about the other case challenging HUD's NOFOs.
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