No one should be arrested for holding a sign.

Jeff Gray, a U.S. Army veteran and retired truck driver, has been repeatedly stopped, detained, searched, and arrested by the police. His alleged crime? Holding signs — in front of city halls across the United States.

Some government officials and police know it’s our right to express ourselves in public — and they respect that right. But others react differently. Police in Alpharetta, Georgia, used “panhandling” as a bogus reason to detain him, even though he never asked for money. In another town, he was cited for not getting a government permit to hold a sign by city hall.

But we don’t need the government’s permission to speak — the First Amendment protects that right. That’s why FIRE is filing lawsuits to protect Jeff Gray’s right to free expression.

With the support of FIRE and people like you, we’re going to tell governments everywhere that free speech should be just that — free.

If you have Jeff’s back, please consider joining FIRE.

For just $25/year you can be a card-carrying member, and help defend and sustain the individual rights of all Americans to free speech and free thought. You also receive special insider perks, like invitations to events and a quarterly magazine.

But we know it's not about what’s in it for you. It’s about helping people. It’s about protecting the values of a free society. And it’s about being part of a community that unapologetically fights for the right to speak your mind.

Are you in?