Activists

The rights guaranteed by the First Amendment — to speak out; to publish pamphlets and web sites; to peaceably assemble and protest; to petition the government — are indispensable tools for the activists in the public interest community. No more so than in the advocacy community is the role of these basic civil liberties evident. These rights protect and embolden individual advocates and advocacy organizations whose opponents could otherwise overwhelm them economically and politically.

	FAP facilitates the democratic process by providing educational resources, free or low-cost legal representation, and advice on these fundamental constitutional rights to our colleagues in nonprofit advocacy and arts organizations.
	FAP assists activists in obtaining public records, ensuring that governmental meetings are open to the public, planning public assemblies and reviewing publications.
	FAP defends activists against strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) that arise out of their exercise of their First Amendment rights.

In this way, we support the effectiveness of the greater public interest community.