Want to receive this digest in your inbox? To subscribe, simply click here and choose DARE: Daily Alert on Rights and Expression from the list.

Tens of thousands turn out in Boston to counter white supremacist rally. After multiple honorees from the arts announce they will not attend the Kennedy Center Honors, President Trump and the First Lady say they will skip the event. Now that he has departed the White House and returned to Breitbart, Steve Bannon is reported to be looking into filling a media gap he sees to the right of Fox News. Current and retired New York city police officers rally in support of Colin Kaepernick and his choice not to stand during the national anthem. -Dru Menaker, Chief Operating Officer

The most pressing threats and notable goings-on in free expression today

U.S.

Boston ‘free speech’ rally ends early amid flood of counterprotesters; 27 people arrested
Counterprotesters marched through city streets Saturday morning in efforts to drown out the planned “free speech” rally that many feared would be attended by white-supremacist groups. By 1 p.m., the handful of rally attendees had left the Boston Common pavillion. City officials said at least 40,000 people participated in the counter protest, of whom 20,000 participated in a march across town.
WASHINGTON POST

Trump to skip Kennedy Center Honors
The decision came after some honorees, including dancer and choreographer Carmen de Lavallade and television writer and producer Norman Lear, said they would boycott the White House reception. Lear previously said he would skip the reception in protest over the administration’s proposal to cut arts funding.
CNN

Steve Bannon, Back on the Outside, Prepares His Enemies List
With his return to Breitbart, Bannon will be free to lead the kind of ferocious assault on the political establishment that he relishes, involving some the biggest fights that lie ahead between Trump and Congress. Bannon’s long enemies list will include anyone he deems hostile to the nationalist, conservative agenda that he viewed himself as the guardian of in the White House.
NEW YORK TIMES

New York Police Officers Rally in Support of Colin Kaepernick
The gathering in Brooklyn Bridge Park was attended by about 80 officers who wore black T-shirts emblazoned with “#IMWITHKAP.” The rally coincided with a wave of demonstrations in Boston and other cities on Saturday, in which protesters addressed white supremacy, Confederate statues, and free speech.
NEW YORK TIMES

To Sue Founder of Daily Stormer, a Neo-Nazi Site, First He Must Be Found
Since April, the Southern Poverty Law Center has tried to track down Andrew Anglin, founder of neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer, for a lawsuit claiming that he used his website and “troll army” to inflict emotional distress on Tanya Gersh, a Jewish real estate agent in Montana, and her family. The fruitless search exemplifies the challenges that online harassment cases encounter.
NEW YORK TIMES

To fight bigotry and hate, don’t muzzle it. There’s a better way.
Why not just forbid these hateful demonstrations altogether? If you think that might be wise, here’s a thought experiment: imagine a civil rights march is shut down because officials fear a violent response from racists. Extremist groups’ message may be vile, but in America, they get to say it. And letting them do so might be the smartest way to fight back.
WASHINGTON POST

 
Global

‘Rough Translation’: What Americans Can Learn From Fake News In Ukraine
Ukraine is where some of Russia’s fake news tactics were first developed before the Euromaidan movement, and precipitated the crises in Crimea and Ukraine’s eastern regions. NPR went to Eastern Ukraine to find out how the information war has changed how people watch the news and talk to each other.
NPR

Thousands march in Hong Kong for release of pro-democracy leaders
Alex Chow, Nathan Law and Joshua Wong were jailed for their involvement in an “unlawful assembly” that helped launch 2014’s Umbrella Movement protests. Police said about 22,000 demonstrators joined the march across Hong Kong island—from Wan Chai to the court of final appeal—on Sunday afternoon to voice their anger.
THE GUARDIAN

‘Trump-like’ Alex Salmond told to ‘grow up’ after attacks on Scots journalists
Speaking at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, former first minister Salmond claimed the press are “largely despised,” accusing them of ignorance and prejudice. He added in a later interview that Scottish journalists should be more “patriotic” in their coverage of Scottish politics.
SUNDAY POST

Myanmar retains tough clause in communications law despite calls for repeal
Under the amendments approved on Friday, judges can release on bail those charged under the law. Also, only people directly affected by an alleged offence, or those with the permission of an affected person, can press charges. But the law’s most contentious clause, which broadly prohibits the use of the telecommunications network to “extort, defame, disturb or intimidate” remains in place.
REUTERS

DARE is a project of PEN America’s #LouderTogether campaign, bringing you a daily-curated roundup of the most important free expression-related news from the U.S. and abroad. Send your feedback and story suggestions to [email protected]