Above all else, what motivates me to do this work are the stories of censorship that we hear from the student journalists and fearless advisers that we serve on SPLC’s Free Legal Hotline.

And it is my fervent hope that their stories inspire you to give generously as we close out this unprecedented year.

Cases like this one from Sara, a staff writer for a school paper in New Jersey. She was working on a story about inadequate seating in her school’s cafeteria when she discovered that the school was violating fire code, creating a dangerous environment for her and her peers. In her own words:

“We were called into the assistant principal's office who said our article would get the school in trouble with the fire department and implied we would be the reason the cafeteria would be shut down. We felt intimidated… we didn’t know that we could fight to have it published, so we abandoned the article.“ 

The kicker?  Sara didn’t even realize that she had been censored until participating in a New Voices Student Leaders Institute with SPLC advisors.

For every case of censorship that we hear about, there are many more that are never reported. That’s why this year we launched a new phase of our New Voices work ensuring the robust implementation of both the spirit and letter of New Voices laws. Our lawyers are analyzing school policies to determine if they are in compliance with the law and offering tailored guidance to superintendents.  

But we need your help: In the months ahead we'll be ramping up our efforts to take this program to the next level. Donate today to help us put an end to illegal censorship.

Rights can only be protected if student journalists, their advisers and school administrators are aware of these laws. Together, with your support, we can make a difference.

Best wishes to you and yours for a happy new year,