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Will Creeley

@wcreeley.bsky.social

I defend freedom of expression as Legal Director for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression. Here for civil liberties. Opinions my own.

216 Followers  |  141 Following  |  20 Posts  |  Joined: 20.11.2024  |  2.2631

Latest posts by wcreeley.bsky.social on Bluesky

Thank you! I appreciate it. Right now Iโ€™m just doing the dishes and thinking of all the other things I wish Iโ€™d said, too. So I really appreciate it.

16.09.2025 00:34 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Big win. Proud of our tireless, tenacious
@thefireorg.bsky.social team โ€” and very grateful for our brave plaintiffs.

19.08.2025 19:39 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Post image

JUST FILED: Today FIRE submitted a โ€œfriend of the courtโ€ brief in defense of Harvard against the Trump administrationโ€™s illegal and hostile takeover attempt of the university.

09.06.2025 17:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 14    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Coming up at the top of the hour! I had a great time talking with Dylan. Thanks for having me!

31.05.2025 13:52 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Defend free expression against Marco Rubioโ€™s speech police Secretary of State Marco Rubio is claiming authority to expel any non-citizen at any time for any speech the administration deems contrary to its โ€œforeign policy.โ€

FIRE is looking for students, faculty, student organizations, and institutions of higher learning who are affected by the administrationโ€™s threat to deport non-citizens for protected speech. Help us fight back โฌ‡๏ธ

09.05.2025 18:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 13    ๐Ÿ” 8    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

#BREAKING: A federal judge has ordered the immediate release of Tufts student Rรผmeysa ร–ztรผrk, who faces deportation for writing an op-ed critical of Israel.

No one in America โ€” citizen or not โ€” should fear the governmentโ€™s wrath for speaking their mind.

09.05.2025 18:20 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 60    ๐Ÿ” 15    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
WATCH: Stephen Miller says Trump administration is 'actively looking at' suspending habeas corpus Stephen Miller, a top White House adviser, said the administration is looking for ways to expand its legal power to deport migrants who are in the country illegally.

Fuck, no.

www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

09.05.2025 19:40 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 328    ๐Ÿ” 72    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 23    ๐Ÿ“Œ 18

Un-American and wrong.

09.05.2025 19:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 4    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
bringing an end to the moral panic that gripped the nation and its officials. Similar themes were
sounded during the McCarthy period in the 1950s when thousands of non-citizens were targeted for deportation due to their political views. Ellen Schrecker, Immigration and Internal Security:
Political Deportations During the McCarthy Era, Vol. 60 Sci. & Soc'y 393 (1996). Again, the fever passed, but not before Justice Jackson was moved to dissent in U.S. ex rel. Knauff v.
Shaughnessy, 338 U.S. 537, 317 (1950), writing in a habeas case concerning the exclusion of a
German war bride:
Security is like liberty in that many are the crimes committed in its name. The menace to the security of this country, be it great as it may, from this girl's admission is as nothing compared to the menace to free institutions inherent in procedures of this pattern.
Justice Minton's majority decision is not much remembered. The wheel of history has come
around again, but as before these times of excess will pass. In the meantime, this case-like
Colyer and Knauff-is extraordinary in the sense that it calls upon the ancient remedy of habeas
to address a persistent modern wrong.

bringing an end to the moral panic that gripped the nation and its officials. Similar themes were sounded during the McCarthy period in the 1950s when thousands of non-citizens were targeted for deportation due to their political views. Ellen Schrecker, Immigration and Internal Security: Political Deportations During the McCarthy Era, Vol. 60 Sci. & Soc'y 393 (1996). Again, the fever passed, but not before Justice Jackson was moved to dissent in U.S. ex rel. Knauff v. Shaughnessy, 338 U.S. 537, 317 (1950), writing in a habeas case concerning the exclusion of a German war bride: Security is like liberty in that many are the crimes committed in its name. The menace to the security of this country, be it great as it may, from this girl's admission is as nothing compared to the menace to free institutions inherent in procedures of this pattern. Justice Minton's majority decision is not much remembered. The wheel of history has come around again, but as before these times of excess will pass. In the meantime, this case-like Colyer and Knauff-is extraordinary in the sense that it calls upon the ancient remedy of habeas to address a persistent modern wrong.

"The wheel of history has come around again, but as before these times of excess will pass. In the meantime, this caseโ€”like Colyer and Knauffโ€”is extraordinary in the sense that it calls upon the ancient remedy of habeas to address a persistent modern wrong."

30.04.2025 16:28 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 172    ๐Ÿ” 34    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
The court also considers the extraordinary setting of this case and others like it. Legal
residents-not charged with crimes or misconduct-are being arrested and threatened with
deportation for stating their views on the political issues of the day. Our nation has seen times
like this before, especially during the Red Scare and Palmer Raids of 1919-1920 that led to the
deportation of hundreds of people suspected of anarchist or communist views. In Colyer v.
Skeffington, 265 F. 17 (1920), Judge Anderson of the District of Massachusetts granted habeas
relief to multiple immigrants detained for their political beliefs. His decision was instrumental in bringing an end to the moral panic that gripped the nation and its officials. Similar themes were
sounded during the McCarthy period in the 1950s when thousands of non-citizens were targeted
for deportation due to their political views. Ellen Schrecker, Immigration and Internal Security:
Political Deportations During the McCarthy Era, Vol. 60 Sci. & Soc'y 393 (1996).

The court also considers the extraordinary setting of this case and others like it. Legal residents-not charged with crimes or misconduct-are being arrested and threatened with deportation for stating their views on the political issues of the day. Our nation has seen times like this before, especially during the Red Scare and Palmer Raids of 1919-1920 that led to the deportation of hundreds of people suspected of anarchist or communist views. In Colyer v. Skeffington, 265 F. 17 (1920), Judge Anderson of the District of Massachusetts granted habeas relief to multiple immigrants detained for their political beliefs. His decision was instrumental in bringing an end to the moral panic that gripped the nation and its officials. Similar themes were sounded during the McCarthy period in the 1950s when thousands of non-citizens were targeted for deportation due to their political views. Ellen Schrecker, Immigration and Internal Security: Political Deportations During the McCarthy Era, Vol. 60 Sci. & Soc'y 393 (1996).

"Our nation has seen times like this before, especially during the Red Scare and Palmer Raids of 1919โ€“1920 that led to the deportation of hundreds of people suspected of anarchist or communist views."

30.04.2025 16:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 218    ๐Ÿ” 47    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 3
CONCLUSION
Petitioner's Motion for Release (Doc. 19) is GRANTED. The court orders the release of
Mohsen Madawi on his personal recognizance during the pendency of this habeas proceeding.
His release is subject to the following conditions:
That he reside in Vermont;
That he is permitted to travel to New York State for educational
purposes or to meet with his lawyers or as otherwise ordered by the
court;
That he attend all court hearings in this case in person unless excused
by order of the court.
28
2:25-cv-00389-gwc
Document 54
Filed 04/30/25
Page 29 of 29
Mahdawi v. Trump, et al.
Dated at Burlington, in the District of Vermont, this 30th day of April, 2025.
Case No. 2:25-CV-389
Geoffrey W. Crawford, Judge
United States District Court

CONCLUSION Petitioner's Motion for Release (Doc. 19) is GRANTED. The court orders the release of Mohsen Madawi on his personal recognizance during the pendency of this habeas proceeding. His release is subject to the following conditions: That he reside in Vermont; That he is permitted to travel to New York State for educational purposes or to meet with his lawyers or as otherwise ordered by the court; That he attend all court hearings in this case in person unless excused by order of the court. 28 2:25-cv-00389-gwc Document 54 Filed 04/30/25 Page 29 of 29 Mahdawi v. Trump, et al. Dated at Burlington, in the District of Vermont, this 30th day of April, 2025. Case No. 2:25-CV-389 Geoffrey W. Crawford, Judge United States District Court

READ NOW: A VT federal judge orders Mohsen Mahdawi released during habeas proceedings.

"Legal residentsโ€”not charged with crimes or misconductโ€”are being arrested and threatened with deportation for stating their views on the political issues of the day."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

30.04.2025 16:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1370    ๐Ÿ” 338    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 11    ๐Ÿ“Œ 15

NEW: Judge Sessions DENIES the govtโ€™s request to keep Rรผmeysa ร–ztรผrk in Louisiana as it appeals the courtโ€™s jurisdiction and reiterates that ICE must transfer her to Vermont by May 1. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

24.04.2025 19:04 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 8536    ๐Ÿ” 1970    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 31    ๐Ÿ“Œ 69
Preview
Trump Officials Blame Mistake for Setting Off Confrontation With Harvard An official on the administrationโ€™s antisemitism task force told the university that a letter of demands had been sent without authorization.

Please let this pathetic walkback be a lesson to everyone tempted to capitulate
www.nytimes.com/2025/04/18/b...

19.04.2025 01:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 718    ๐Ÿ” 153    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 27    ๐Ÿ“Œ 10
Palestinian activist's deportation a 'violation of free speech,' says advocate | Hanomansing Tonight
YouTube video by CBC News Palestinian activist's deportation a 'violation of free speech,' says advocate | Hanomansing Tonight

Talked about why Khalil's detention should concern every American last night on CBC.

I was born and raised in Buffalo. I love our northern neighbors. When Canadians have reason to worry about visiting the United States, things have gone terribly wrong.

youtu.be/MZDbb5D-uKM?...

12.04.2025 23:55 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 3    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 1    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Law firms refuse to represent Trump opponents in the wake of his attacks The result is an extraordinary threat to constitutional rights of due process and representation and a far weaker effort to challenge Trumpโ€™s actions in court than during his first term.

My students often ask whether thereโ€™s any point in being in law school anymore, especially as they witness the rule of law being systematically eroded. That question breaks my heart. Itโ€™s also why I urge them, emphatically to stay and fight.

www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...

25.03.2025 11:27 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 23    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
VICTORY: Federal court blocks Texas A&Mโ€™s unconstitutional drag ban A federal judge upheld the First Amendment rights of a Texas A&M student group by blocking an attempt by officials to ban the group's upcoming drag show "Draggieland"

VICTORY! Today, a federal judge granted a student groupโ€™s motion for a preliminary injunction, preventing Texas A&M officials from blocking a First Amendment-protected student drag show on its College Station campus.
www.thefire.org/news/victory...

24.03.2025 18:31 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 11    ๐Ÿ” 4    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Proud of my FIRE team โ€” particularly @jtmorristx.bsky.social and @adamsteinbaugh.bsky.social โ€” for securing this result.

24.03.2025 14:01 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
Democratic Senators Team Up With MAGA To Hand Trump A Censorship Machine At the exact moment when Donald Trump and his MAGA allies are actively dismantling democratic institutions and working to silence critics, a group of Democratic Senators have decided to collaborateโ€ฆ

Okay, I wrote a longer thing about @durbin.senate.gov, @amyklobuchar.com, @klobuchar.senate.gov, @whitehouse.senate.gov, @blumenthal.senate.gov apparently wanting to hand Donald Trump a huge weapon with which to censor online speech.

www.techdirt.com/2025/03/21/d...

21.03.2025 22:44 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1982    ๐Ÿ” 996    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 81    ๐Ÿ“Œ 155
Preview
Opinion | Who Will Defend the Defenders of the Constitution? The president and his allies are encouraging a campaign of menace.

โ€œThe more people who come forward to defend the Constitution, the greater their chances of success will be.โ€

www.nytimes.com/2025/03/22/o...

22.03.2025 13:46 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 1    ๐Ÿ” 0    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1

You'd never know it, but there is actually a constitutional provision that gives universities, law firms, and media orgs the *right* to say no to the president when he demands that they prostrate themselves before him.

21.03.2025 11:53 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2418    ๐Ÿ” 593    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 29    ๐Ÿ“Œ 11

Paul Weiss hasnโ€™t confirmed any of this. I *really* hope thatโ€™s because this is wishful thinking on Trumpโ€™s part. I canโ€™t imagine that Paul Weissโ€™s lawyers would agree to this.

20.03.2025 23:54 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 68    ๐Ÿ” 12    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 6    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Even if it somehow turns out that Paul Weiss (like Mexico?) only agreed to do stuff they otherwise would have done just to get out from under the Executive Order, firms must fight the very basis of the EO & its attack on the integrity of the legal professions rather than look for an easy way out.

20.03.2025 23:56 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 33    ๐Ÿ” 5    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 2    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0
Preview
FIRE and coalition partners file brief rebuking the U.S. government for attempting to deport Mahmoud Khalil for his protected speech Khalilโ€™s arrest is an affront to the First Amendment and the cherished American principle that the government may not punish people based on their opinions.

Coalition of civil liberties orgs led by @thefireorg.bsky.social files amicus brief rebuking the U.S. government for detaining Mahmoud Khalil for his free speech, pointing out the unfettered authority Rubio claims has already been declared unconstitutionally vague: www.thefire.org/news/fire-an...

20.03.2025 15:06 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 166    ๐Ÿ” 46    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 3    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
FIRE and coalition partners file brief rebuking the U.S. government for attempting to deport Mahmoud Khalil for his protected speech Khalilโ€™s arrest is an affront to the First Amendment and the cherished American principle that the government may not punish people based on their opinions.

Glad to be on file here, and grateful for the hard work of my colleagues to make it happen. www.thefire.org/news/fire-an...

20.03.2025 14:45 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 3    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 1
Preview
A โ€˜dangerousโ€™ moment: Advocates denounce arrest of activist Mahmoud Khalil Rights groups argue that the Trump administration is using anti-Semitism as a pretext to clamp down on free speech.

โ€œI think whatโ€™s perhaps most dangerous about this moment is that, given the rhetoric coming out of the administration today, folks across the country are going to think twice before they criticise the government, whether itโ€™s the US government or Israeli government" - @wcreeley.bsky.social

11.03.2025 13:23 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 17    ๐Ÿ” 7    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Also Happy 61st to New York Times v. Sullivan. May it live to see 62 (and so on)

09.03.2025 19:03 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 10    ๐Ÿ” 2    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

Happy Shuttlesworth Day

09.03.2025 19:02 โ€” ๐Ÿ‘ 2    ๐Ÿ” 1    ๐Ÿ’ฌ 0    ๐Ÿ“Œ 0

@wcreeley is following 20 prominent accounts