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Founded in 1999, FIRE has spent over two decades defending free speech rights primarily on college campuses. Its origins lie in the mid-1980s when universities began adopting restrictive speech codes under the guise of combating racism and sexism. These policies often limited unpopular or offensive viewpoints, threatening the fundamental American principle of free expression.
Lukianoff explains that FIRE's mission is to combat these encroachments and advocate for a culture where free speech is protected both legally and normatively. Over time, their scope expanded beyond campuses to address free speech issues at large, emphasizing that protecting unpopular ideas is crucial in a free society.