Causes: Censorship, Freedom of Speech & Press, Civil Liberties, Civil Rights, Democracy

Mission: Defending Rights & Dissent strengthens our participatory democracy by protecting the right of political expression. We work to fulfill the promise of the Bill of Rights for everyone. Formerly, we were known as the Bill of Rights Defense Committee & Defending Dissent Foundation,

Results: DRAD has coordinated grassroots campaigns from coast-to-coast that have worked to strengthen civil rights protections in their community and defeat attempts to curtail civil liberties. DRAD has brought together a diverse range of groups, including non-civil liberties groups, to act as unlikely allies in the fight for political rights. We've documented curtailments of political rights and educated the public at large and key decision makers about these ongoing violations.

Target demographics: Protect individual rights and liberties and to strengthen our Democracy.

Direct beneficiaries per year: To defeat anti-protest bills across the country, educated members of Congress about FBI harassment of activists, and published a groundbreaking report on state anti-whistleblower intiatives ("ag-gag laws:_

Geographic areas served: national, state, and local level

Programs: Providing leadership, resources and technical support to grassroots coalitions and their independent advocacy for policies and practices protecting all of our civil liberties.