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.

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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
Photo from a protest of a man wearing a black jacket and gloves holding a sign with a megaphone and a star graphic, with the text "dissent is patriotic" and the ACLU logo.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Protests & Demonstrations

Know your rights when it comes to protests, marches and demonstrations.
Know Your Rights
Red and blue photo of a student talking into a megaphone

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS: Students & The First Amendment

News & Commentary
Light yellow background with dark red shapes and image of the top of an apartment building

Court Sides with Coalition Challenging Latest Efforts to Politicize Homelessness Funding Grants

Court Blocks Latest Unlawful Homelessness Funding Announcement
News & Commentary
Robert Cote being led out of a Warwick Town Council meeting by a police officer, with purple and blue shapes and squiggles framing the image.

ACLU Challenges Warwick Attempt to Double Down on Stifling Speech of Municipal Activist

“Citizens should be free to comment on their interactions with government, including what happens in a lawsuit. If not, the government can make the proceedings secret and protected from public scrutiny."

Cases, Campaigns & Legislation


Court Case
Jul 23, 2026

President and Fellows of Harvard College v. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Court Case
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.
Legislation
May 31, 2026

Prohibiting Obscene Material (S 2595)

Status: Held for Further Study
Position: Oppose
Legislation
Apr 22, 2026

Street Solicitations (S 2969)

Status: Held for Further Study
Position: Oppose