Message from the FAC Board

Recent attacks on the judiciary, journalists, law firms, and other institutions and individuals upend the foundational underpinnings of our democracy. The fundamental rights defended by the First Amendment Coalition, as well as the rule of law, are under threat.

The rule of law is essential for our democracy. In our work, we use the court system to enforce First Amendment rights, as well as government transparency and accountability. The recent, unconstitutional executive orders punishing several law firms and the verbal attacks on federal judges whose decisions do not please the administration are particularly troubling threats to our legal system. Without an independent judiciary and lawyers who are able to represent their clients without fear of retribution, our democracy would suffer grievous damage.

We want to reassure clients, donors, peers, and other stakeholders that our dedication to our mission is as strong as ever. It reads:

The First Amendment Coalition protects and promotes a free press, freedom of expression, and the people’s right to know. Nonpartisan and nonprofit, FAC believes that the broadest range of engaged and informed communities is essential to the health of our democracy — that the values expressed by the First Amendment provide a blueprint for an inclusive, equitable society and a responsive, accountable government. To that end, FAC educates, advocates, and litigates to advance government transparency and First Amendment protections for all.

From our founding in 1988, we have worked to secure access to government meetings and records, as well as First Amendment rights of speech and press for those without the resources to do so on their own. Diversity, equity, and inclusion — which we have defined broadly to include demographic, economic, and geographic diversity — have been, and remain an integral part of our work. We believe that in order to realize the promise of the values underlying the First Amendment, we must reach and include as broad a range of voices as possible to inform our policies, priorities, and programs.

Thanks to your support, we are ready to meet the moment. You can find out more about our mission, our commitment to training, our advocating for and defending underserved communities, and the impact of FAC’s recent work on our website, in our newsletters and on social media.

As Executive Director David Snyder wrote in our latest Impact Report, “The need to shore up the fundamentals of democracy — free expression, a free press, and the right to know — is more urgent than ever before.”

— Katherine Ann Rowlands, president of the FAC Board of Directors
April 16, 2025