Defending Rights & Dissent
@rightsdissent.bsky.social
Defending your right to know and freedom to act. Learn more at RightsandDissent.org
"The president declaring a domestic ideology or movement ‘terrorists’ is going to encourage both federal and local law enforcement to treat them as such"
Thanks @npquarterly.bsky.social for speaking with us about Trump's war on 'antifa' nonprofitquarterly.org/lessons-of-r...
Thanks @npquarterly.bsky.social for speaking with us about Trump's war on 'antifa' nonprofitquarterly.org/lessons-of-r...
Lessons of Resistance: How Activists Navigated Hoover’s FBI and Political Scrutiny | Nonprofit Quarterly | Civic News. Empowering Nonprofits. Advancing Justice.
By looking back at Hoover-era resistance tactics, how past organizations protected members and sustained their missions under pressure, nonprofits can be better prepared for the continued threats unde...
nonprofitquarterly.org
November 20, 2025 at 7:27 PM
"The president declaring a domestic ideology or movement ‘terrorists’ is going to encourage both federal and local law enforcement to treat them as such"
Thanks @npquarterly.bsky.social for speaking with us about Trump's war on 'antifa' nonprofitquarterly.org/lessons-of-r...
Thanks @npquarterly.bsky.social for speaking with us about Trump's war on 'antifa' nonprofitquarterly.org/lessons-of-r...
We’re deeply disturbed by Trump’s comment that “things happen” regarding the Saudi killing of Wash. Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who Trump also posthumously smears.
Khashoggi’s assassination remains a horrific crime for which the crown prince must be held to account. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Khashoggi’s assassination remains a horrific crime for which the crown prince must be held to account. www.bbc.com/news/article...
November 19, 2025 at 5:44 PM
We’re deeply disturbed by Trump’s comment that “things happen” regarding the Saudi killing of Wash. Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who Trump also posthumously smears.
Khashoggi’s assassination remains a horrific crime for which the crown prince must be held to account. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Khashoggi’s assassination remains a horrific crime for which the crown prince must be held to account. www.bbc.com/news/article...
Hear from the U.S. Journalists Abducted from Gaza Aid Flotillas
ICYMI: Listen to first-hand accounts from journalists Alex Colston (of @dropsitenews.com), Emily Wilder (Jewish Currents), & Noa Avishag Schnall
Panel event co-hosted with @freedom.press
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/hear-fr...
ICYMI: Listen to first-hand accounts from journalists Alex Colston (of @dropsitenews.com), Emily Wilder (Jewish Currents), & Noa Avishag Schnall
Panel event co-hosted with @freedom.press
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/hear-fr...
Hear from the U.S. Journalists Abducted from Gaza Aid Flotillas
In this live webinar co-hosted by Freedom of the Press Foundation and Defending Rights & Dissent, we examined what it means for press freedom when journalists are punished for bearing witness. …
www.rightsanddissent.org
November 7, 2025 at 4:32 PM
Hear from the U.S. Journalists Abducted from Gaza Aid Flotillas
ICYMI: Listen to first-hand accounts from journalists Alex Colston (of @dropsitenews.com), Emily Wilder (Jewish Currents), & Noa Avishag Schnall
Panel event co-hosted with @freedom.press
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/hear-fr...
ICYMI: Listen to first-hand accounts from journalists Alex Colston (of @dropsitenews.com), Emily Wilder (Jewish Currents), & Noa Avishag Schnall
Panel event co-hosted with @freedom.press
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/hear-fr...
Reposted by Defending Rights & Dissent
Join us live now for this important conversation with US journalists abducted from international waters and detained by Israel while covering Gaza aid flotillas: www.youtube.com/watch?v=waqn...
@dropsitenews.com @recolston.bsky.social @rightsdissent.bsky.social @chipgibbons.bsky.social
@dropsitenews.com @recolston.bsky.social @rightsdissent.bsky.social @chipgibbons.bsky.social
November 3, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Join us live now for this important conversation with US journalists abducted from international waters and detained by Israel while covering Gaza aid flotillas: www.youtube.com/watch?v=waqn...
@dropsitenews.com @recolston.bsky.social @rightsdissent.bsky.social @chipgibbons.bsky.social
@dropsitenews.com @recolston.bsky.social @rightsdissent.bsky.social @chipgibbons.bsky.social
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower Anthony Aguilar recounted war crimes he witnessed Israel & the U.S. commit in Palestine, to a packed house at
@busboysandpoets.bsky.social
If you missed it, check out our in-depth recap of Aguilar's testimony 👇 www.rightsanddissent.org/news/event-r...
@busboysandpoets.bsky.social
If you missed it, check out our in-depth recap of Aguilar's testimony 👇 www.rightsanddissent.org/news/event-r...
Event recap: Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower Anthony Aguilar
Defending Rights & Dissent Policy Director Chip Gibbons sat down on October 16, 2025 with Lt. Col. Anthony Aguilar, who worked under the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) as a contractor from …
www.rightsanddissent.org
October 27, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower Anthony Aguilar recounted war crimes he witnessed Israel & the U.S. commit in Palestine, to a packed house at
@busboysandpoets.bsky.social
If you missed it, check out our in-depth recap of Aguilar's testimony 👇 www.rightsanddissent.org/news/event-r...
@busboysandpoets.bsky.social
If you missed it, check out our in-depth recap of Aguilar's testimony 👇 www.rightsanddissent.org/news/event-r...
Washington DC! Join us Thursday for a new documentary & panel discussion on the Occupy movement that mobilized millions to take to the streets for a better world
FREE TO ATTEND! October 23rd, 7pm @ips-dc.org w/ @arunguptareporter.bsky.social,@chipgibbons.bsky.social, Omar Ocampo, & Margaret Flowers
FREE TO ATTEND! October 23rd, 7pm @ips-dc.org w/ @arunguptareporter.bsky.social,@chipgibbons.bsky.social, Omar Ocampo, & Margaret Flowers
October 20, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Washington DC! Join us Thursday for a new documentary & panel discussion on the Occupy movement that mobilized millions to take to the streets for a better world
FREE TO ATTEND! October 23rd, 7pm @ips-dc.org w/ @arunguptareporter.bsky.social,@chipgibbons.bsky.social, Omar Ocampo, & Margaret Flowers
FREE TO ATTEND! October 23rd, 7pm @ips-dc.org w/ @arunguptareporter.bsky.social,@chipgibbons.bsky.social, Omar Ocampo, & Margaret Flowers
"It is the responsibility of the State Department to advocate for American journalists."
With @penamerica.bsky.social, @freedom.press & more, we wrote to Sec. Rubio over the Americans and others who Israel illegally abducted from the Global Sumud Flotilla
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/rights-...
With @penamerica.bsky.social, @freedom.press & more, we wrote to Sec. Rubio over the Americans and others who Israel illegally abducted from the Global Sumud Flotilla
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/rights-...
October 15, 2025 at 3:45 PM
"It is the responsibility of the State Department to advocate for American journalists."
With @penamerica.bsky.social, @freedom.press & more, we wrote to Sec. Rubio over the Americans and others who Israel illegally abducted from the Global Sumud Flotilla
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/rights-...
With @penamerica.bsky.social, @freedom.press & more, we wrote to Sec. Rubio over the Americans and others who Israel illegally abducted from the Global Sumud Flotilla
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/rights-...
Washington DC! Join us Thursday at Brookland @busboysandpoets.bsky.social for a talk with Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower Anthony Aguilar.
Free to attend -- RSVP now!
www.busboysandpoets.com/events/th-ev...
Free to attend -- RSVP now!
www.busboysandpoets.com/events/th-ev...
Eyewitness to Gaza’s Death Traps: A conversation with Anthony Aguilar | Busboys and Poets
As part of its ongoing genocide in Gaza, Israel has deliberately pursued a policy of starvation. After blocking reputable aid providers like the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), Israel,...
www.busboysandpoets.com
October 14, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Washington DC! Join us Thursday at Brookland @busboysandpoets.bsky.social for a talk with Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower Anthony Aguilar.
Free to attend -- RSVP now!
www.busboysandpoets.com/events/th-ev...
Free to attend -- RSVP now!
www.busboysandpoets.com/events/th-ev...
Stop Trump's illegal aggression in the Caribbean, support Senate War Powers Resolution today
secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/stop-trump...
secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/stop-trump...
Stop Trump's aggression in the Caribbean now
Tell your Senator: Support the War Powers bill to rein Trump in now
secure.rightsanddissent.org
October 8, 2025 at 5:57 PM
Stop Trump's illegal aggression in the Caribbean, support Senate War Powers Resolution today
secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/stop-trump...
secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/stop-trump...
Reposted by Defending Rights & Dissent
A powerful, insightful, and disturbing interview Chip Gibbons from #ProtectTheProtest coalition member @rightsdissent.bsky.social on last week's executive order.
“The national security state is a wonderful tool for a skilled authoritarian to crush American democracy.”
"Extremely disturbing": What does Trump's "antifa" executive order actually do?
"The national security state is a wonderful tool for a skilled authoritarian to crush American democracy."
www.motherjones.com
September 29, 2025 at 4:35 PM
A powerful, insightful, and disturbing interview Chip Gibbons from #ProtectTheProtest coalition member @rightsdissent.bsky.social on last week's executive order.
Reposted by Defending Rights & Dissent
Use this tool from @rightsdissent.bsky.social to tell the State Department to demand Israel release these activists and journalists.
secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/state-dept...
secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/state-dept...
A US journalist is on board. The State Dept. should be all over this and it should be headline news.
Neither is likely, because the government considers critics of Israel terrorists and the media often shuns reporters who oppose slaughtering their Palestinian colleagues.
Neither is likely, because the government considers critics of Israel terrorists and the media often shuns reporters who oppose slaughtering their Palestinian colleagues.
🚨 BREAKING: The Sirius-Haifa (carrying Drop Site editor Alex Colston) has been boarded by Israeli military...Contact with Colston has been lost; as part of security protocols, he and other...
🎥 “The Ship Sirius: A day in the life,” a video report from Alex Colston (@recolston.bsky.social)...
🎥 “The Ship Sirius: A day in the life,” a video report from Alex Colston (@recolston.bsky.social)...
October 2, 2025 at 12:44 AM
Use this tool from @rightsdissent.bsky.social to tell the State Department to demand Israel release these activists and journalists.
secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/state-dept...
secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/state-dept...
Read the latest from @dropsitenews.com on Israel's illegal interception of Global Sumud Flotilla boats, below 👇
Then tell @statedeptus.bsky.social that Israel must release Drop Site journalist Alex Colston and the rest of those abducted immediately: secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/state-dept...
Then tell @statedeptus.bsky.social that Israel must release Drop Site journalist Alex Colston and the rest of those abducted immediately: secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/state-dept...
October 2, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Read the latest from @dropsitenews.com on Israel's illegal interception of Global Sumud Flotilla boats, below 👇
Then tell @statedeptus.bsky.social that Israel must release Drop Site journalist Alex Colston and the rest of those abducted immediately: secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/state-dept...
Then tell @statedeptus.bsky.social that Israel must release Drop Site journalist Alex Colston and the rest of those abducted immediately: secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/state-dept...
War Powers Watch: Trump and Venezuela
Constitutional law expert @chipgibbons.bsky.social reviews the legal issues around Trump's extrajudicial killing of 11 individuals in a speedboat in the Caribbean
www.youtube.com/live/XKy8QBs...
Constitutional law expert @chipgibbons.bsky.social reviews the legal issues around Trump's extrajudicial killing of 11 individuals in a speedboat in the Caribbean
www.youtube.com/live/XKy8QBs...
War Powers Watch: Trump and Venezuela
YouTube video by Defending Rights & Dissent
www.youtube.com
September 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
War Powers Watch: Trump and Venezuela
Constitutional law expert @chipgibbons.bsky.social reviews the legal issues around Trump's extrajudicial killing of 11 individuals in a speedboat in the Caribbean
www.youtube.com/live/XKy8QBs...
Constitutional law expert @chipgibbons.bsky.social reviews the legal issues around Trump's extrajudicial killing of 11 individuals in a speedboat in the Caribbean
www.youtube.com/live/XKy8QBs...
NEWS: Judge to drop the RICO charges against all 61 Cop City protesters accused of racketeering!
These charges were always an absurd affront to the First Amendment and should never have been looming over these activists' heads for so long.
apnews.com/article/atla...
These charges were always an absurd affront to the First Amendment and should never have been looming over these activists' heads for so long.
apnews.com/article/atla...
September 10, 2025 at 5:08 PM
NEWS: Judge to drop the RICO charges against all 61 Cop City protesters accused of racketeering!
These charges were always an absurd affront to the First Amendment and should never have been looming over these activists' heads for so long.
apnews.com/article/atla...
These charges were always an absurd affront to the First Amendment and should never have been looming over these activists' heads for so long.
apnews.com/article/atla...
Thank you Senator Paul for your speaking out.
Our Constitution and our principles are clear.
The President cannot order someone dead because he suspects they committed crime.
And extrajudicial executions are a war crime.
Our Constitution and our principles are clear.
The President cannot order someone dead because he suspects they committed crime.
And extrajudicial executions are a war crime.
Senator Rand Paul directly and forthrightly takes on JD Vance:
"What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial."
"What a despicable and thoughtless sentiment it is to glorify killing someone without a trial."
September 8, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Thank you Senator Paul for your speaking out.
Our Constitution and our principles are clear.
The President cannot order someone dead because he suspects they committed crime.
And extrajudicial executions are a war crime.
Our Constitution and our principles are clear.
The President cannot order someone dead because he suspects they committed crime.
And extrajudicial executions are a war crime.
Reposted by Defending Rights & Dissent
Do you know about the Free to Speak Bill of Rights & Resource Hub?
We helped build this collaborative tool with @rightsdissent.bsky.social + @greenpeaceusa.bsky.social to share resources that strengthen organizing, defend free speech and keep our coalitions grounded in shared values. Check it out!
We helped build this collaborative tool with @rightsdissent.bsky.social + @greenpeaceusa.bsky.social to share resources that strengthen organizing, defend free speech and keep our coalitions grounded in shared values. Check it out!
Free to Speak Bill of Rights
Protest is the voice of the people. Wherever injustice arises, the people come together to raise their voices in protest. This right to dissent is at the heart of our democracy. From the civil rights movement to Vietnam War protests to Black Lives Matter, protest bends the arc towards justice.
www.freetospeakforall.org
August 27, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Do you know about the Free to Speak Bill of Rights & Resource Hub?
We helped build this collaborative tool with @rightsdissent.bsky.social + @greenpeaceusa.bsky.social to share resources that strengthen organizing, defend free speech and keep our coalitions grounded in shared values. Check it out!
We helped build this collaborative tool with @rightsdissent.bsky.social + @greenpeaceusa.bsky.social to share resources that strengthen organizing, defend free speech and keep our coalitions grounded in shared values. Check it out!
Reposted by Defending Rights & Dissent
📣Urge your reps to support the Land of the Free Act and repeal a pernicious provision, invoked by the Trump admin., to arrest and attempt to deport legal residents for exercising their right to free speech, including targeting Rümeysa Öztürk for co-authoring an op-ed.
Via @rightsdissent.bsky.social
Via @rightsdissent.bsky.social
Support the Land of the Free Act
secure.rightsanddissent.org
September 2, 2025 at 8:35 PM
📣Urge your reps to support the Land of the Free Act and repeal a pernicious provision, invoked by the Trump admin., to arrest and attempt to deport legal residents for exercising their right to free speech, including targeting Rümeysa Öztürk for co-authoring an op-ed.
Via @rightsdissent.bsky.social
Via @rightsdissent.bsky.social
Great post from @hrdag.org about protecting our rights by protecting our data
HRDAG stands firmly with the human rights community in insisting that encryption is not optional — it is fundamental to the defense of truth.
Any attempt to ban or backdoor encryption technology is a threat to the human rights community.
hrdag.substack.com/p/without-en...
Any attempt to ban or backdoor encryption technology is a threat to the human rights community.
hrdag.substack.com/p/without-en...
Without Encryption My Work Wouldn’t Be Possible
Our work isn’t always popular. It can infuriate those in power who want to cover up incriminating truths about the past and current trends in state violence. So when I think about HRDAG’s threat model...
hrdag.substack.com
September 4, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Great post from @hrdag.org about protecting our rights by protecting our data
LIVESTREAM: Register now to see our conversation with Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Whistleblower Anthony Aguilar, August 12 at 3:30pm.
Aguilar saw first-hand how the GHF 'aid' sites became "death traps" for starving Palestinians in Gaza. secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/livestream...
Aguilar saw first-hand how the GHF 'aid' sites became "death traps" for starving Palestinians in Gaza. secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/livestream...
Livestream: Gaza Humanitarian Foundation whistleblower speaks to Defending Rights & Dissent
secure.rightsanddissent.org
August 8, 2025 at 3:58 PM
LIVESTREAM: Register now to see our conversation with Gaza Humanitarian Foundation Whistleblower Anthony Aguilar, August 12 at 3:30pm.
Aguilar saw first-hand how the GHF 'aid' sites became "death traps" for starving Palestinians in Gaza. secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/livestream...
Aguilar saw first-hand how the GHF 'aid' sites became "death traps" for starving Palestinians in Gaza. secure.rightsanddissent.org/a/livestream...
NEW: As part of a separate FOIA investigation, we have discovered that the DHS distributed a “Situational Awareness Bulletin” about the 2022 film "How to Blow Up a Pipeline"
Read @chipgibbons.bsky.social for more on the discovery: www.rightsanddissent.org/news/dhs-dis...
Read @chipgibbons.bsky.social for more on the discovery: www.rightsanddissent.org/news/dhs-dis...
DHS Distributed “Situational Awareness Bulletin” About Film How To Blow Up A Pipeline
An investigation by Defending Rights & Dissent has revealed that the Department of Homeland Security distributed a “situational awareness bulletin” in advance of the release of the film How To …
www.rightsanddissent.org
July 24, 2025 at 6:39 PM
NEW: As part of a separate FOIA investigation, we have discovered that the DHS distributed a “Situational Awareness Bulletin” about the 2022 film "How to Blow Up a Pipeline"
Read @chipgibbons.bsky.social for more on the discovery: www.rightsanddissent.org/news/dhs-dis...
Read @chipgibbons.bsky.social for more on the discovery: www.rightsanddissent.org/news/dhs-dis...
The people have a right to transparency and a functioning Congress. We don’t know what’s in the Epstein files, but depriving the people of a functioning legislature in order to hide these secrets is outrageous.
July 22, 2025 at 11:15 PM
The people have a right to transparency and a functioning Congress. We don’t know what’s in the Epstein files, but depriving the people of a functioning legislature in order to hide these secrets is outrageous.
BREAKING: Defending Rights & Dissent Lawsuit Uncovers FBI Surveillance of Journalists and Peace Activists at Left Forum
@chipgibbons.bsky.social breaks down our discovery that 2 FBI agents secretly attended a panel on WikiLeaks at the 2018 conference www.rightsanddissent.org/news/defendi...
@chipgibbons.bsky.social breaks down our discovery that 2 FBI agents secretly attended a panel on WikiLeaks at the 2018 conference www.rightsanddissent.org/news/defendi...
July 22, 2025 at 1:54 PM
BREAKING: Defending Rights & Dissent Lawsuit Uncovers FBI Surveillance of Journalists and Peace Activists at Left Forum
@chipgibbons.bsky.social breaks down our discovery that 2 FBI agents secretly attended a panel on WikiLeaks at the 2018 conference www.rightsanddissent.org/news/defendi...
@chipgibbons.bsky.social breaks down our discovery that 2 FBI agents secretly attended a panel on WikiLeaks at the 2018 conference www.rightsanddissent.org/news/defendi...
The Trump administration's attempted deportation is unconstitutional. It is outrageous an immigration judge was still moving along with removal proceedings in spite of a federal judge's injunction.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Ex-Columbia Student Wins Ruling Blocking Deportation, for Now
A federal judge said the US can’t immediately deport Mahmoud Khalil, blocking the Trump administration’s attempts to get another court to give it permission to ship the former Columbia University grad...
www.bloomberg.com
July 22, 2025 at 2:21 AM
The Trump administration's attempted deportation is unconstitutional. It is outrageous an immigration judge was still moving along with removal proceedings in spite of a federal judge's injunction.
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
VIDEO: Our policy director @chipgibbons.bsky.social joined
@majorityreport.bsky.social yesterday and spoke with
@emmavigeland.bsky.social about Mahmoud Khalil and the history of U.S. crackdowns on political dissent
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/video-c...
@majorityreport.bsky.social yesterday and spoke with
@emmavigeland.bsky.social about Mahmoud Khalil and the history of U.S. crackdowns on political dissent
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/video-c...
Video: Chip Gibbons joins Majority Report on Trump’s war on free speech
Defending Rights & Dissent Policy Director Chip Gibbons appeared on the popular political talk show The Majority Report today for a live discussion about the Trump administration’s crackdown on…
www.rightsanddissent.org
July 18, 2025 at 3:47 PM
VIDEO: Our policy director @chipgibbons.bsky.social joined
@majorityreport.bsky.social yesterday and spoke with
@emmavigeland.bsky.social about Mahmoud Khalil and the history of U.S. crackdowns on political dissent
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/video-c...
@majorityreport.bsky.social yesterday and spoke with
@emmavigeland.bsky.social about Mahmoud Khalil and the history of U.S. crackdowns on political dissent
www.rightsanddissent.org/news/video-c...
Reposted by Defending Rights & Dissent
Federal agencies can't limit requests for government information about third parties this way.
If CBP doesn't want to release information about its communications with these organizations, it shouldn't communicate with them.
If CBP doesn't want to release information about its communications with these organizations, it shouldn't communicate with them.
BREAKING: In response to our FOIA request about the government’s collusion with private blacklisting organizations like Canary Mission, Betar, and the ADL, CBP
is claiming it cannot release files mentioning a “business” unless the business consents on their letterhead.
is claiming it cannot release files mentioning a “business” unless the business consents on their letterhead.
July 15, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Federal agencies can't limit requests for government information about third parties this way.
If CBP doesn't want to release information about its communications with these organizations, it shouldn't communicate with them.
If CBP doesn't want to release information about its communications with these organizations, it shouldn't communicate with them.