As a respected military historian and director of the William A. Brookshire Louisiana State University Military Museum, James P. Gregory Jr. has dedicated his career to improving our understanding of some of the most important periods in our nation’s history. His work sheds light on the real stories behind our military heroes, often correcting misconceptions and myths in a tireless pursuit of the truth.
When Gregory identified over two hundred issues in the academic work of Doug Mastriano—a Pennsylvania politician and former gubernatorial candidate—Gregory took his concerns to the academic community. Mastriano responded by suing Gregory and 27 other academics for defamation and federal claims ranging from RICO to antitrust violations.
Mastriano’s lawsuit is yet another example of a powerful public figure’s attempt to silence critics through a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation, or “SLAPP.” The purpose of a SLAPP isn’t necessarily to win in court but to punish and intimidate critics into silence by dragging them into costly litigation. It’s censorship by lawsuit, and FIRE is here to put an end to it.
This case underscores the importance of protecting academic inquiry so that scholars are free to engage in robust debate, critique public figures, and challenge dominant narratives without fear of retaliation. Academic freedom should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford to fight off a lawsuit—it is a cornerstone of democracy, critical to ensuring that truth and integrity prevail in our institutions.
If we allow scholars to be intimidated into silence under the threat of meritless legal action, we risk losing the critical voices that keep our government, history, and society honest. We stand with Gregory and all academics who hold powerful individuals accountable. Mastriano’s attempt to suppress Gregory’s findings is not just an attack on one historian but on the marketplace of ideas itself.
We urge you to stand with us to defend free expression and protect academics from lawsuits meant to silence them.