Institute for Free Speech

The Institute for Free Speech promotes and defends the First Amendment rights to freely speak, assemble, publish, and petition the government through strategic litigation, communication, activism, training, research, and education. Our dedicated professional staff works tirelessly to protect political speech under these freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. We are the nation's largest organization dedicated solely to protecting First Amendment political speech rights. Free political speech guaranteed by the First Amendment is the most important right. It is the right that allows citizens to criticize, challenge, and ultimately improve their government. Despite its importance, the Institute for Free Speech is the only organization with a dedicated professional staff and mission seeking to promote and defend American citizens' First Amendment political speech rights.

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News. Community. Debate. Levers for better democracy.

Big Picture

Justine Lee

Meet the reformer: Justine Lee, who says it's more than just a meal

After a series of jobs in marketing and media during her first decade after college, Justine Lee was motivated by Donald Trump's election to augment her career. She created Make America Dinner Again based on this simple premise: Gathering politically diverse strangers for good food and guided conversation about hot-button issues could improve listening skills and enhance cross-ideology understanding — and as a result make a small but meaningful dent in the polarized partisanship at the core of our democracy's challenges. Thousands of dinner participants and almost four years later, there are chapters in a dozen cities. Lee runs the operation in New York while working as an audience development consultant. Her answers have been edited for clarity and length.

What's the tweet-length description of your organization?

We do not aim to change minds, but to help people grow by sharing stories and learning from one another. There are many avenues to protest, donate, fight and be heard; our gatherings are an avenue to listen.

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Events

2020 Election – Concerns and Aspirations

Organizer: Living Room Conversations

As campaigning begins for the 2020 election, countless voices clamor for our attention, our donations, our time, and our votes. Headlines, news broadcasts, and social media present conflicting reports on guns, immigration, border security, abortion, climate, healthcare, and other pressing matters – often using facts selected to bolster specific views. Shrill ads overwhelm our senses and seem designed to promote rage rather than reflection. It can be difficult to stay open-minded to new learning or understand the perspectives of those we disagree with. This conversation is an opportunity to share and reflect on our perspectives with others; cutting through the noise to seek a more productive exchange about our different values and hopes for the future.

Location: Virtual

Events

United or Divided?

Organizer: Living Room Conversations

Political and philosophical differences are normal in a healthy and free society. No citizen should be expected to violate his or her own conscience or compromise sacred principles. But the common values we share, and our shared desire to solve common problems, should also enable us to make reasonable and principled compromises for our mutual well-being. In some instances, the Left and the Right fundamentally agree, yet the system somehow keeps us from working together.

Here is the conversation guide. Please pay particular attention to the questions in Round 2.

Location: Virtual

Institute for Free Speech

Meet the reformer: Justine Lee, who says it's more than just a meal

2020 Election – Concerns and Aspirations

United or Divided?

Younger House members a bit more bipartisan, research decides