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President Trump prepares to make a speech this evening about the southern U.S. border, a subject on which his falsehoods and dishonesty have escalated throughout his presidency. Networks debate whether or not to air the speech live. Birmingham Civil Rights Institute rescinds its decision to honor author, academic, and activist Angela Davis. Federal appeals court finds that a Virginia politician blocking a constituent on social media violated the First Amendment. Tensions escalate between protesters and supporters of a Florida bookstore hosting a Drag Queen Story Hour. -Anoosh Gasparian, External Relations Manager

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

U.S.

Trump Wants the Networks to Carry His Speech Live. They Should Look at These Charts of His Lies.
“Trump’s dishonesty about immigration has escalated throughout his presidency. And at moments of political difficulty over the issue, the lies and distortions have reached staggering heights.” Here are charts of what Trump’s falsehoods and distortions on immigration in particular look like when broken down by month or day.
WASHINGTON POST

To Air or Not to Air: Networks Face Pressure over Broadcasting Trump’s Immigration Address
President Trump’s planned prime-time address on immigration tonight put the broadcast networks in a difficult—and familiar—position as they debated whether to carry the address live. But in the end, they agreed to the White House request and will air the speech.
NBC NEWS

Birmingham Civil Rights Institute Cancels Plan to Honor Angela Davis
The decision came after “supporters and other concerned individuals and organizations, both inside and outside of our local community, began to make requests that we reconsider our decision,” the institute’s board said in a statement.
AL

Politicians Cannot Block Social Media Foes: U.S. Appeals Court
A federal appeals court said a Virginia politician violated the Constitution by temporarily blocking a critic from her Facebook page, a decision that could affect President Donald Trump’s appeal from a similar ruling in New York.
REUTERS

Tensions Escalate at Bookstore Hosting ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’
Protesters clashed with supporters—drawing deputies and police—outside the Paperback Exchange Bookstore in Florida Saturday morning as it hosted its second “Drag Queen Story Hour.”
SPECTRUM BAY NEWS

 
Global

Demands Mount For Hunger-Striking Azerbaijani Blogger’s Release Amid New Charges
An Azerbaijani media-rights group has added its name to the list of organizations urging the government to release Mehman Huseynov, a hunger-striking blogger who was targeted with a new charge just weeks before his expected release from prison.
RADIO FREE EUROPE
*See PEN America’s statement

Govt Surveillance and Data Governance and Sovereignty to Dominate Tech Policy Debate in India
Intermediary liability, government surveillance, digital taxation, and data governance and sovereignty will dominate the debate on tech policy making in India in the run-up to the general elections this year as the turf war between Indian and foreign technology companies intensifies, according to policy makers and lawyers.
ECONOMIC TIMES

Chinese Schoolkids Are Being Tracked and Monitored through Tech Embedded in Their ‘Smart Uniforms’
Schools in Guizhou province and the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region are using “smart uniforms” embedded with GPS trackers to make sure students do not skip class. China is a world leader in developing and applying technology for surveillance.
BUSINESS INSIDER

German Man Confesses to Hacking of Public Figures’ Data, Officials Say
A young German man admitted to stealing and publishing online the personal data of hundreds of lawmakers, journalists, and other public figures out of anger at their political statements.
NEW YORK TIMES

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