Why Support FAC?
Why Support FAC?
FAC’s vision is a California in which the rights promised by the First Amendment are available and enforced for everyone, irrespective of wealth, politics or access to power. Every day, FAC’s team of First Amendment experts fight for these protections and for government transparency on multiple fronts, bringing our decades of experience to bear by using our model of integrated advocacy—litigation, public education, and policy advocacy—to attack violations of our core rights at the local, state, and federal levels.
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.
1,104 Served by the Legal Hotline
15 State Bills FAC Influenced
695 Mentions in the Media
43 Educational Events
How We Earn Your Support
FAC works to make government more accountable to you by defending your right to criticize government and by making government more open, transparent and responsive to the people. Here are some recent news updates:
2026 FAC News Highlights
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Case
FAC Prevails in Public Records Lawsuit for Ventura County Sheriff’s Immigration Operation Video Footage
In a settlement the county has disclosed the video footage sought by Buen Vecino under the public records act.
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education
Inside FAC's Three Days at a College Journalism Conference
Approximately 700 students and educators gathered for the Associated Collegiate Press’ national conference in San Francisco on March 5.
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Case
Court Rules Fresno City Council Violated Open Meetings Law By Conducting Budget Deliberations in Secret
The city's secret budget committee was found to have violated the state's open meetings law.
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CASE
FAC Sues L.A. Schools for Concealing Teacher Misconduct Records
The city is unlawfully withholding public records related to teacher and school employee misconduct — including sexual misconduct — in violation of the California Public Records Act.
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Advocacy
FAC Champions Bill to Put Sunshine on Immigration Detention
SB 423 would amend the California Public Records Act to require local agencies to release more records related to 911 calls from immigration detention facilities.
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CASE
Settlment Reached Over California Law Prohibiting Sharing Lawfully Obtained Information About Sealed Arrest Records
A Solano County judge ruled that the Napa Valley and Benicia Unified School Districts can release public records regarding former public school teacher’s alleged sexual abuse of students.