In a democracy, people who speak out against injustice should not face retribution.

Corporations have immense resources at their disposal, and they often use those resources to stifle criticism and obscure the existence of abuses through violence and harassment against whistleblowers, activists, and other human rights and environmental defenders (HREDs).

One dangerous legal tactic used by those in power to silence their critics is to file “Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation” (SLAPPs). SLAPPs masquerade as ordinary civil lawsuits, but their true purpose is to retaliate against those who speak truth to power.

To help defend those who speak out, ICAR leads the Protect the Protest Task Force, a coalition that combines the expertise and collective power of its members to fight back against SLAPPs and protect the free speech of public interest advocates in the United States.

When corporate interests and wealthy people use the judicial system or other tactics to silence their critics, we fight back.