The World Socialist Web Site, Socialist Equality Party, and International Youth and Students for Social Equality are organizing public meetings throughout the United States to alert workers and youth to the far-advanced efforts to control and censor the Internet.

The US government, in the closest collaboration with Google, Facebook, Twitter and other powerful information technology corporations, is implementing massive restrictions on Internet access to socialist, antiwar and progressive websites. Capitalist governments in Europe and throughout the world are enacting similar repressive policies. This is combined with the abolition of net neutrality and an intensification of government surveillance operations.

The ruling class launched this desperate campaign because it is terrified of the growing mass opposition to social inequality and war. Workers and young people around the world are using the Internet to coordinate struggles and share information outside of the control of the corporate media.

The World Socialist Web Site, which has been a principal target of the censorship campaign, is leading the fight against the greatest attack on free speech since the Second World War. In January, it called for an International Coalition of Socialist, Antiwar and Progressive Websites Against Internet Censorship to expose what is taking place and coordinate opposition.

These meetings will explore the political context of efforts to censor the Internet, examine the pretexts used to justify the suppression of free speech (e.g., “fake news”), and discuss a political strategy to mobilize the working class in defense of democratic rights.

Meeting details (additional meetings are being planned. Contact us for information on setting up a meeting in your area):

Portland State University
Wednesday, April 11, 7:00 p.m.
Urban Building, Parson's Room
Portland, Oregon

University of Illinois, Chicago
Sunday, April 15, 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Lecture Center C, Room 4
Chicago, Illinois

Huntington, West Virginia
Sunday, April 15, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Cabell County Public Library, 3rd Floor
455 9th Street, Huntington

Regional Meeting
Detroit, Michigan
Sunday, April 22, 11:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Wayne State University
Student Center Ballroom

Birmingham, Alabama
Saturday, April 28, 2:00 p.m.
Daniel Day Gallery
3025 6th Ave
Birmingham, Alabama