Defending Dissent Foundation

Defending Dissent Foundation is a non-profit civil liberties organization. Our mission is to protect and advance the right of dissent in the U.S. DDF preserves and advances the right to dissent in three ways: by educating the public, press, policymakers, and activists about the essential role dissent plays in a democracy, alerting local activists when civil liberties are threatened, and by ensuring that the concerns of activists are heard in Washington.

Defending Dissent was founded in 1960 as the National Committee to Abolish HUAC, later changing its name to National Committee Against Repressive Legislation (NCARL). NCARL amalgamated with First Amendment Foundation in 2007, changing its name to Defending Dissent Foundation to more accurately reflect its mission.