Thread by @rickhasen

I'm delighted to share the news, scooped by @Politico's @ZachMontellaro below, that David Kaye and I have started the Fair Elections and Free Speech Center @ucilaw.

Why such a Center? /1

https://twitter.com/ZachMontellaro/status/1417466166109421569

As we explain at the Fair Elections and Free Speech Center's website, law.uci.edu/centers/fefs/,

/3

We have assembled a world-class advisory board to help guide our mission, which is to strengthen democracy and the rule of law in the digital age both in the U.S. and around the world. I'm blown away by the folks who signed on to advise us. /4
law.uci.edu/centers/fefs/p…

And we are going to hit the ground running, with a series of free, virtual events, open to all in the fall. Among the most important events is a conference on Election Subversion, on Friday Sept. 24. Speakers include Georgia SOS Brad Raffensperger. calendar.law.uci.edu/event/fefs_ele… /5

Here's the tentative agenda for the Sept. 24 conference on Election Subversion at @ucilaw's Fair Elections and Free Speech Center test.law.uci.edu/centers/fefs/i… /6

The Fair Elections and Free Speech Center will also have a three-part lunch series on challenges in global elections, beginning w a Sept. 1 event looking at disinformation in elections in Uganda, Israel, and the Netherlands. /7 calendar.law.uci.edu/event/fefs_glo…

The Fair Elections and Free Speech Center will also have a three-part lunch series on disinformation in American elections. One panel features Michigan SOS @JocelynBenson and @OCRegistrar Neal Kelly. Others will feature social scientists and law profs. /8 calendar.law.uci.edu/event/fefs_dis…

I'm also excited to moderate a Fair Elections and Free Speech Center conversation on Sept. 9, Is the U.S. Constitution Up to the Task of Preserving American Democracy?, with @jackbalkin, @michelebgoodwin, and Michael Klarman. calendar.law.uci.edu/event/fefs_is_… /9

We have much bigger plans for the Fair Elections and Free Center @UCILaw going forward, as we begin our building and fundraising efforts.
@davidkaye and I cannot thank enough @LSongRichardson for her early leadership on this project, and the tremendous law school staff. /10

And now here is the official press release for the Fair Elections and Free Speech Center @ucilaw: law.uci.edu/news/press-rel… /11

I *told* you to stay tuned as I had such exciting news I could not contain myself! /12

You can watch this video, in which @davidakaye and I explain why we started the Fair Elections and Free Speech Center @ucilaw, and what we hope to do.
/13