The 15th annual First Amendment Days will take place Wednesday through Friday to celebrate what is arguably the most revered amendment enshrined in the Bill of Rights of the U.S. Constitution.

The First Amendment guarantees five natural rights to the American citizen. It protects freedom of speech and expression, keeps the government from establishing religion and likewise protects the free practice of one’s religious beliefs. It ensures a free and open press, the freedom of association and freedom to petition the government.

Each right is regarded as an integral part of a free American society. 

These rights are not only established in law, forbidding government infringement, but are also an ideal to strive toward in wider society. First Amendment Days celebrate those rights and freedoms. 

Events will begin Wednesday with “Depth and Dialog Sessions.” Discussion topics will range from “Free Speech vs. Hate Speech,” “Free Speech considerations for Faculty and Staff,” “Diversity and Inclusion and the First Amendment” and “Think Like a Journalist.” 

The day will close with “Freedom Sings!” celebrating provocative music.

Festivities will continue Thursday with the “Democalypse March” and “Feast on the First.”

Closing the night, keynote speaker Glenn Smith will speak on the importance of individual journalists and news outlets exposing falsehoods, speaking the truth and giving a voice to those who would otherwise wouldn’t have one in a time when news is hard to trust and many feel unrepresented.

First Amendment Days 2017 will close with the First Amendment Teaching Workshop seminar on Friday, where faculty and staff of universities and high schools will be shown new ways to better teach their students about the value and importance of the First Amendment.