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President Donald Trump lost a major legal battle when a federal judge agreed to permanently block his efforts to end federal funding for NPR and PBS.

Jane Fonda led a powerful First Amendment rally outside the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. The actress and activist gathered with Joan Baez, musicians, journalists and writers to defend free speech.

A host of celebrities outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts kicked off a weekend of protest against President Trump’s expansion of executive power and his administration’s pressure on freedom of expression.

The actor Jane Fonda joined journalists, musicians and writers outside Washington’s John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts urging people to “break your silence” and “stand tall against authoritarianism”

While past FCC chairs have taken pains to keep some distance from the president who appointed them, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has shown no interest in doing so.

Free Press, a media advocacy group, held a protest outside the FCC building in Washington, D.C., during the proceedings. The group’s mobile billboard described Carr as the “Censorship Czar.”
 

As the FCC held its monthly meeting, parked outside the building was a mobile billboard critical of Chairman Brendan Carr. 

“The prospect of local TV news monopolies complying with government demands is dire,” says Matt Wood. “It’s frightening for any democracy that values debate and dissent.” 

The billboard stood outside FCC headquarters on Thursday as Carr convened the agency’s monthly open meeting. Protesters gathered outside with duct tape covering their mouths while wearing “Censorship Czar” t-shirts.

A bill that aimed to prevent the use of expensive lawsuits to silence journalists and other members of the public was blocked by the Wisconsin state Senate.