Will Creeley
@wcreeley.bsky.social
I defend freedom of expression as Legal Director for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression.
Here for civil liberties. Opinions my own.
Here for civil liberties. Opinions my own.
Reposted by Will Creeley
"Hott—shockingly— answered 'No' when asked if he agreed 'agree that it's unconstitutional to arrest people for being opposed to Midway Blitz?' Similarly, Bovino testified that he has instructed his officers to arrest protesters who make hyperbolic comments in the heat of political demonstrations"
Overnight court filings seem to be giving us a peek at what U.S. Border Patrol commander Greg Bovino said in his deposition so far (it apparently continues today):
November 4, 2025 at 2:38 PM
"Hott—shockingly— answered 'No' when asked if he agreed 'agree that it's unconstitutional to arrest people for being opposed to Midway Blitz?' Similarly, Bovino testified that he has instructed his officers to arrest protesters who make hyperbolic comments in the heat of political demonstrations"
Big win. Proud of our tireless, tenacious
@thefireorg.bsky.social team — and very grateful for our brave plaintiffs.
@thefireorg.bsky.social team — and very grateful for our brave plaintiffs.
VICTORY! In a win for student expression on campus, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals today overruled a lower court's decision, sided with FIRE’s clients, and blocked West Texas A&M University’s unconstitutional ban on drag shows.
August 19, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Big win. Proud of our tireless, tenacious
@thefireorg.bsky.social team — and very grateful for our brave plaintiffs.
@thefireorg.bsky.social team — and very grateful for our brave plaintiffs.
Reposted by Will Creeley
JUST FILED: Today FIRE submitted a “friend of the court” brief in defense of Harvard against the Trump administration’s illegal and hostile takeover attempt of the university.
June 9, 2025 at 5:46 PM
JUST FILED: Today FIRE submitted a “friend of the court” brief in defense of Harvard against the Trump administration’s illegal and hostile takeover attempt of the university.
Coming up at the top of the hour! I had a great time talking with Dylan. Thanks for having me!
This week on Young American With Dylan Douglas:
Dylan breaks down the book bans we've seen across the country with activist Elizabeth Foster, and talks about the first amendment implications with @wcreeley.bsky.social of @thefireorg.bsky.social!
Catch it Saturday at 10!
Dylan breaks down the book bans we've seen across the country with activist Elizabeth Foster, and talks about the first amendment implications with @wcreeley.bsky.social of @thefireorg.bsky.social!
Catch it Saturday at 10!
May 31, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Coming up at the top of the hour! I had a great time talking with Dylan. Thanks for having me!
Reposted by Will Creeley
FIRE is looking for students, faculty, student organizations, and institutions of higher learning who are affected by the administration’s threat to deport non-citizens for protected speech. Help us fight back ⬇️
Defend free expression against Marco Rubio’s speech police
Secretary of State Marco Rubio is claiming authority to expel any non-citizen at any time for any speech the administration deems contrary to its “foreign policy.”
go.thefire.org
May 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
FIRE is looking for students, faculty, student organizations, and institutions of higher learning who are affected by the administration’s threat to deport non-citizens for protected speech. Help us fight back ⬇️
Reposted by Will Creeley
#BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk, who faces deportation for writing an op-ed critical of Israel.
No one in America — citizen or not — should fear the government’s wrath for speaking their mind.
No one in America — citizen or not — should fear the government’s wrath for speaking their mind.
#FILED: Detaining Tufts University student Rümeysa Öztürk for writing an op-ed critical of Israel is both unlawful and un-American. Now, FIRE is standing with Ms. Öztürk against this authoritarian act.
Detaining Öztürk over an op-ed is unlawful and un-American
A Tufts international student's detention for writing an op-ed revives the ghost of the Alien Acts and puts the First Amendment at risk.
www.thefire.org
May 9, 2025 at 6:20 PM
#BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk, who faces deportation for writing an op-ed critical of Israel.
No one in America — citizen or not — should fear the government’s wrath for speaking their mind.
No one in America — citizen or not — should fear the government’s wrath for speaking their mind.
Reposted by Will Creeley
Un-American and wrong.
Stephen Miller on the court order to release Tufts student Rümeysa Öztürk: "There's a judicial coup in this country....This judicial coup by a handful of Marxist judges...can only be understood as an attack on democracy."
May 9, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Un-American and wrong.
Reposted by Will Creeley
"The wheel of history has come around again, but as before these times of excess will pass. In the meantime, this case—like Colyer and Knauff—is extraordinary in the sense that it calls upon the ancient remedy of habeas to address a persistent modern wrong."
April 30, 2025 at 4:28 PM
"The wheel of history has come around again, but as before these times of excess will pass. In the meantime, this case—like Colyer and Knauff—is extraordinary in the sense that it calls upon the ancient remedy of habeas to address a persistent modern wrong."
Reposted by Will Creeley
"Our nation has seen times like this before, especially during the Red Scare and Palmer Raids of 1919–1920 that led to the deportation of hundreds of people suspected of anarchist or communist views."
April 30, 2025 at 4:27 PM
"Our nation has seen times like this before, especially during the Red Scare and Palmer Raids of 1919–1920 that led to the deportation of hundreds of people suspected of anarchist or communist views."
Reposted by Will Creeley
READ NOW: A VT federal judge orders Mohsen Mahdawi released during habeas proceedings.
"Legal residents—not charged with crimes or misconduct—are being arrested and threatened with deportation for stating their views on the political issues of the day."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
"Legal residents—not charged with crimes or misconduct—are being arrested and threatened with deportation for stating their views on the political issues of the day."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
April 30, 2025 at 4:23 PM
READ NOW: A VT federal judge orders Mohsen Mahdawi released during habeas proceedings.
"Legal residents—not charged with crimes or misconduct—are being arrested and threatened with deportation for stating their views on the political issues of the day."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
"Legal residents—not charged with crimes or misconduct—are being arrested and threatened with deportation for stating their views on the political issues of the day."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Will Creeley
NEW: Judge Sessions DENIES the govt’s request to keep Rümeysa Öztürk in Louisiana as it appeals the court’s jurisdiction and reiterates that ICE must transfer her to Vermont by May 1. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
April 24, 2025 at 7:04 PM
NEW: Judge Sessions DENIES the govt’s request to keep Rümeysa Öztürk in Louisiana as it appeals the court’s jurisdiction and reiterates that ICE must transfer her to Vermont by May 1. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Will Creeley
Please let this pathetic walkback be a lesson to everyone tempted to capitulate
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/b...
Trump Officials Blame Mistake for Setting Off Confrontation With Harvard
An official on the administration’s antisemitism task force told the university that a letter of demands had been sent without authorization.
www.nytimes.com
April 19, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Please let this pathetic walkback be a lesson to everyone tempted to capitulate
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/b...
Talked about why Khalil's detention should concern every American last night on CBC.
I was born and raised in Buffalo. I love our northern neighbors. When Canadians have reason to worry about visiting the United States, things have gone terribly wrong.
youtu.be/MZDbb5D-uKM?...
I was born and raised in Buffalo. I love our northern neighbors. When Canadians have reason to worry about visiting the United States, things have gone terribly wrong.
youtu.be/MZDbb5D-uKM?...
Palestinian activist's deportation a 'violation of free speech,' says advocate | Hanomansing Tonight
YouTube video by CBC News
youtu.be
April 12, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Talked about why Khalil's detention should concern every American last night on CBC.
I was born and raised in Buffalo. I love our northern neighbors. When Canadians have reason to worry about visiting the United States, things have gone terribly wrong.
youtu.be/MZDbb5D-uKM?...
I was born and raised in Buffalo. I love our northern neighbors. When Canadians have reason to worry about visiting the United States, things have gone terribly wrong.
youtu.be/MZDbb5D-uKM?...
Reposted by Will Creeley
My students often ask whether there’s any point in being in law school anymore, especially as they witness the rule of law being systematically eroded. That question breaks my heart. It’s also why I urge them, emphatically to stay and fight.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Law firms refuse to represent Trump opponents in the wake of his attacks
The result is an extraordinary threat to constitutional rights of due process and representation and a far weaker effort to challenge Trump’s actions in court than during his first term.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 25, 2025 at 11:27 AM
My students often ask whether there’s any point in being in law school anymore, especially as they witness the rule of law being systematically eroded. That question breaks my heart. It’s also why I urge them, emphatically to stay and fight.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Will Creeley
VICTORY! Today, a federal judge granted a student group’s motion for a preliminary injunction, preventing Texas A&M officials from blocking a First Amendment-protected student drag show on its College Station campus.
www.thefire.org/news/victory...
www.thefire.org/news/victory...
VICTORY: Federal court blocks Texas A&M’s unconstitutional drag ban
A federal judge upheld the First Amendment rights of a Texas A&M student group by blocking an attempt by officials to ban the group's upcoming drag show "Draggieland"
www.thefire.org
March 24, 2025 at 6:31 PM
VICTORY! Today, a federal judge granted a student group’s motion for a preliminary injunction, preventing Texas A&M officials from blocking a First Amendment-protected student drag show on its College Station campus.
www.thefire.org/news/victory...
www.thefire.org/news/victory...
Proud of my FIRE team — particularly @jtmorristx.bsky.social and @adamsteinbaugh.bsky.social — for securing this result.
JUST IN: A federal judge in Texas (George HW Bush appointee) has barred Texas A&M's board from canceling a drag show on campus.
Trump's executive order "cannot override First Amendment protections," she rules.
"Draggieland" will go on March 27.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Trump's executive order "cannot override First Amendment protections," she rules.
"Draggieland" will go on March 27.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
March 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Proud of my FIRE team — particularly @jtmorristx.bsky.social and @adamsteinbaugh.bsky.social — for securing this result.
Reposted by Will Creeley
Okay, I wrote a longer thing about @durbin.senate.gov, @amyklobuchar.com, @klobuchar.senate.gov, @whitehouse.senate.gov, @blumenthal.senate.gov apparently wanting to hand Donald Trump a huge weapon with which to censor online speech.
www.techdirt.com/2025/03/21/d...
www.techdirt.com/2025/03/21/d...
Democratic Senators Team Up With MAGA To Hand Trump A Censorship Machine
At the exact moment when Donald Trump and his MAGA allies are actively dismantling democratic institutions and working to silence critics, a group of Democratic Senators have decided to collaborate…
www.techdirt.com
March 21, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Okay, I wrote a longer thing about @durbin.senate.gov, @amyklobuchar.com, @klobuchar.senate.gov, @whitehouse.senate.gov, @blumenthal.senate.gov apparently wanting to hand Donald Trump a huge weapon with which to censor online speech.
www.techdirt.com/2025/03/21/d...
www.techdirt.com/2025/03/21/d...
Reposted by Will Creeley
Need a weekend read? I wrote about the government, newspapers, and the liberty of the press at the Founding.
Take a look and learn from early Americans themselves about how they thought of press freedom and government interference with it.
matthewschafer.medium.com/false-dichot...
Take a look and learn from early Americans themselves about how they thought of press freedom and government interference with it.
matthewschafer.medium.com/false-dichot...
False Dichotomies and the Original Understanding of Press Freedom
Late last year, I presented an American Bar Association webinar about the Supreme Court’s recent suggestion that, perhaps, we should look…
matthewschafer.medium.com
March 22, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Need a weekend read? I wrote about the government, newspapers, and the liberty of the press at the Founding.
Take a look and learn from early Americans themselves about how they thought of press freedom and government interference with it.
matthewschafer.medium.com/false-dichot...
Take a look and learn from early Americans themselves about how they thought of press freedom and government interference with it.
matthewschafer.medium.com/false-dichot...
“The more people who come forward to defend the Constitution, the greater their chances of success will be.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/o...
Opinion | Who Will Defend the Defenders of the Constitution?
The president and his allies are encouraging a campaign of menace.
www.nytimes.com
March 22, 2025 at 1:46 PM
“The more people who come forward to defend the Constitution, the greater their chances of success will be.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/o...
Reposted by Will Creeley
You'd never know it, but there is actually a constitutional provision that gives universities, law firms, and media orgs the *right* to say no to the president when he demands that they prostrate themselves before him.
American civil society is full of abject cowards, that is the issue. The government is a mafia state but it is winning because most American elite institutions are devoid of anything resembling integrity and are folding rather than stand on principles that were little more than marketing.
March 21, 2025 at 11:53 AM
You'd never know it, but there is actually a constitutional provision that gives universities, law firms, and media orgs the *right* to say no to the president when he demands that they prostrate themselves before him.
Reposted by Will Creeley
Paul Weiss hasn’t confirmed any of this. I *really* hope that’s because this is wishful thinking on Trump’s part. I can’t imagine that Paul Weiss’s lawyers would agree to this.
Trump rescinds his Executive Order targeting Paul, Weiss because the firm entered into an “agreement” with Trump.
According to the White House, Trump agreed to rescind after a meeting w/ Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp, in which Karp “acknowledged the wrongdoing” of former partner Mark Pomerantz.
According to the White House, Trump agreed to rescind after a meeting w/ Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp, in which Karp “acknowledged the wrongdoing” of former partner Mark Pomerantz.
March 20, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Paul Weiss hasn’t confirmed any of this. I *really* hope that’s because this is wishful thinking on Trump’s part. I can’t imagine that Paul Weiss’s lawyers would agree to this.
Reposted by Will Creeley
Even if it somehow turns out that Paul Weiss (like Mexico?) only agreed to do stuff they otherwise would have done just to get out from under the Executive Order, firms must fight the very basis of the EO & its attack on the integrity of the legal professions rather than look for an easy way out.
March 20, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Even if it somehow turns out that Paul Weiss (like Mexico?) only agreed to do stuff they otherwise would have done just to get out from under the Executive Order, firms must fight the very basis of the EO & its attack on the integrity of the legal professions rather than look for an easy way out.