New England First Amendment Coalition |
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NEFAC will honor individuals who have promoted and defended the First Amendment during an online ceremony at 7 p.m. on April 13.
Honorees this year include Raney Aronson-Rath, executive producer for FRONTLINE, and the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. Ticket proceeds support civics and First Amendment education in New England.
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The goal of Sunshine Week — March 13-19 this year with related events occurring throughout the month — is to promote a dialogue about the importance of open government and freedom of information.
During the week, NEFAC commentary appeared in dozens of publications throughout the region. The coalition also sponsored and participated in several right-t0-know workshops and discussions. Learn more.
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‘Something We Can All Agree On’ | In an op/ed published by more than 30 newspapers, NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman wrote: "Government transparency is a non-partisan principle that transcends who’s in office or which political party is in control."
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Keeping the Light On | The First Amendment provides for the “right of the people to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” But what does that mean? NEFAC and the Loeb School led a panel discussion to explore this question.
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Finding a Common Ground Through Transparency | Marcus Ferro at WBSM interviews NEFAC's Justin Silverman.
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The Future of Online Public Meetings in Rhode Island? | Moderated by NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman, this panel discussion features local transparency advocates and public officials.
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Accessing local, state and federal courts can be an intimidating task. It can often be a challenge to obtain information about hearings, attend proceedings and receive copies of judicial records.
By viewing this lesson, you will learn:
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• How the court system operates and the levels of public access.
• The gatekeepers of information and where they can be found.
• Strategies and tips for reporters beginning to cover the courts.
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The New England First Amendment Coalition recently opposed a plan in New Hampshire to make secret all records of settlements between the state and victims of abuse at its former Youth Development Center.
House Bill 1677 creates a state fund of at least 100 million dollars to compensate victims though it would exempt all records related to the fund’s administration from the Right to Know Law. [...]
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NEFAC recently concluded its third round of introductory classes on public record laws. The lessons focus on the appeals process for individual states and the federal Freedom of Information Act.
This latest round of classes is provided by NEFAC with support from the Society of Professional Journalists Foundation, SPJ New England, MuckRock and the New England Society of News Editors.
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The New England First Amendment Coalition today joined a group of Massachusetts open government advocates to request that remote public access again be provided to Governor’s Council meetings.
The Governor’s Council is an elected body that, among other things, approves lifetime appointments to the state’s courts and votes on commutations. It announced earlier this month that it would no longer stream its hearings online despite doing so throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. [...]
Additional Coverage
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In an op/ed for Central Maine Newspapers and the Bangor Daily News, NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman discusses a recent survey of Maine law enforcement agencies involving access to citizen complaints against officers. [...]
Additional Coverage
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NEFAC Helps Lead Journalism, Civics Education Classes for New England Students |
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NEFAC Executive Director Justin Silverman led a class on journalism and the First Amendment (shown in photo) at the University of Massachusetts Amherst this month.
Coalition members also participated in a University of Rhode Island discussion on misinformation and a class on student journalism as part of Massachusetts Civic Learning Week.
Email justin@nefac.org to schedule a guest speaker for your class or program.
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“There needs to be a baseline expectation from the public about what kind of consistent information we can get about our police officers,” Justin Silverman, executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition, said.
Silverman, the NEFAC leader, said it is important for state leaders to prioritize the consistent release of public information, especially concerning police who have broken public trust.
“We have a right to know who those officers are,” he said. “They’re working in our communities, and if we don’t know, it’s really difficult for us to have confidence in the system, and to hold them accountable.” [...]
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Justin Silverman, the executive director of the New England First Amendment Coalition, said political speech “is at the very top of the spectrum of protection” under the Constitution.
“Under the First Amendment, they as government officials should not be in a position where they’re deciding what is, or is not, permissible speech,” Silverman said.
Silverman, with the First Amendment Coalition, said that generally, governments shouldn’t be setting the rules for free speech.
“If there is a bedrock principle to the First Amendment, it’s that government should not be determining for us what is offensive, what is vulgar, and what speech should not be said,” Silverman said. [...]
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Here’s what attorney Jonathan Albano on behalf of the New England First Amendment Coalition said about the council’s vote: “The Mass Open Meeting (law) applies to any communications, including email between a quorum of members. Here, council members basically ‘voted’ by sending individual emails to one councilor. That seems to violate the spirit, if not the letter, of the Open Meeting Law.” [...]
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Wu has some First Amendment law on her side, said Justin Silverman New England First Amendment Coalition, but he added that enforcement is a concern.
“Even if it’s constitutional, it can be difficult for police to arrive on a scene with protesters and for them to determine if protesters are on the move or camped out in front of a specific residence,” Silverman said. “This type of ordinance can be difficult to enforce.” [...]
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MORE FOI & FIRST AMENDMENT NEWS
Regional / National
Connecticut
Maine
Massachusetts
New Hampshire
Rhode Island
Vermont
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Thank You to Our Supporters |
NEFAC appreciates the support of all its donors and volunteers. In particular, we would like to thank the following Leadership Circle donors ($10,000+) and Major Supporters ($2,500-$9,999) for their contributions:
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LEADERSHIP CIRCLE
Hearst Conn. Media Group
The Boston Globe
Paul and Ann Sagan
The Robertson Foundation
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MAJOR SUPPORTERS
Boston University
WBUR-Boston
Academy of New England Journalists
SPJ Foundation
Genie Gannett for the First Amendment Museum
Linda Pizzuti Henry
Connecticut Public
GBH-Boston
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