President’s Letter

Free expression and information access are at the heart of American democratic life, which demands that citizens be informed to participate meaningfully in public affairs. We need to know—and speak freely about—what’s happening around Georgia in city halls, county courthouses, state commissions, police departments, public schools, and beyond. That access enables us to vote knowledgeably, to hold government officials accountable, and to engage in productive debates about difficult political, social, and economic issues.

As the late Charles L. Weltner, as chief justice of the Supreme Court of Georgia, once wrote, “Public men and women, above all others, must be of good faith. Neither facile excuse nor clever dissimulation can serve in the stead of duty—faithfully performed. Because public men and women are amenable ‘at all times’ to the people, they must conduct the public’s business out in the open.”

At the Georgia First Amendment Foundation, we work in that spirit to advocate for free expression and information access across the state. We fight for open records and meetings. We defend the rights of peaceable protestors. We deliver training sessions to public officials and journalists, and we produce educational resources to explain the law. We’re honored to serve the public interest, and we’d love for you to join us—to support our critical mission. Become a member. Make a donation. Attend one of our events. We need you with us and taking action to preserve the rights of all Georgians.