FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition recently called on Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to veto “revenge pornography” legislation that could criminalize constitutionally protected speech, saying the proposed law would chill news reporting. Revenge pornography is commonly considered the sharing of images depicting adult nudity […]

Update 4.4.18: NEFAC sent a similar letter to the Rhode Island House of Representatives on April 3 to address its versions of the legislation.  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition recently called on Rhode Island legislators to protect press rights while combatting “revenge pornography,” saying a […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition recently called on Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo to protect press rights in any legislation she introduces to address revenge pornography. Revenge pornography is commonly considered the sharing of images depicting adult nudity without the consent of the person pictured. […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition recently wrote to Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo in support of her “revenge porn” bill currently being debated by the state’s legislature. Revenge pornography is commonly considered the sharing of images depicting adult nudity without the consent of the person pictured. Such images are often shared to […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org The New England First Amendment Coalition recently called for constitutional safeguards in Rhode Island legislation intending to combat so-called “revenge pornography.” Senate Bill 0401 would criminalize the unauthorized sharing of sexually explicit images or photos of a person’s “intimate areas.” It does not, as NEFAC […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT Justin Silverman | 774.244.2365 | justin@nefac.org Below are brief statements from five media and free speech organizations, including the New England First Amendment Coalition, expressing thanks to Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo for vetoing a so-called “revenge porn” bill that would have had a chilling effect on free speech rights. The groups had requested the governor […]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACTS Justin Silverman, New England First Amendment Coalition, 774-244-2365, justin@nefac.org | Steven Brown, American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, 401-831-7171, brownaclu@aol.com | Linda Lotridge Levin, Rhode Island Press Association, 401-3451-3278, lindalevin@uri.edu First Amendment and freedom of press advocates wrote to Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo this week urging her to veto […]

Boston Globe Media Partners v. Dep’t of Public Health (Mass. 2018) The letter and spirit of the PRL is to “give the public broad access to governmental records.” Amici agree with Plaintiff-Appellant’s position that the Records are not subject to withholding under Exemption (a), but write specifically to address the application of Exemption (c). The […]

Why Burlington Police are Withholding Diver’s Name | Burlington Free Press 12.28.18 “This is the first time in 50 years of reporting that they’ve refused me a name,” said Mike Donoghue, executive director of the Vermont Press Association, a vice president at the New England First Amendment Coalition and former Free Press reporter.  “What Burlington is […]

To Maine Supreme Judicial Court Re: Task Force on Transparency and Privacy in Court Records (Dec. 15, 2017) NEFAC is concerned with recommendations that, if adopted, would limit online public access to judicial documents. Providing online access to only attorneys and litigants, as is being recommended, undermines the ability of all Maine residents to learn […]