Explore Free Speech with Dan Billin and The Center for the Arts
April 21 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
Explore Free Speech with Dan Billin and The Center for the Arts
New London, NH – The Center for the Arts invites the public to an evening of riveting storytelling and historical insight with journalist and historian Dan Billin. As part of CFA’s HuManities Mondays series, Billin will dive into the power and fragility of free speech in a presentation titled “Live Free or Die: The Contested History of the Words on Your License Plate.”
In 1969, when New Hampshire officials decided to emblazon the state motto—“Live Free or Die”—on license plates, many citizens viewed it as an endorsement of the Vietnam War. Some responded with an act of resistance: covering or altering the motto. In response, state authorities cracked down, arresting and fining those who engaged in this duct-tape dissent. Their legal battle ultimately reached the United States Supreme Court, igniting a landmark First Amendment case.
Billin, a longtime newspaper reporter in New Hampshire, will bring his journalistic expertise and passion for history to this discussion, shedding light on this uniquely New Hampshire tale. In addition to the license plate controversy, he has uncovered fascinating stories from the state’s past, including the long-forgotten tale of Noyes Academy and the extraordinary Black students who sought an education in antebellum New Hampshire.
This free event will take place on Monday, April 21, 2025, from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM at CFA’s new space in New London, NH. Whether you’re a history buff, a free speech advocate, or simply enjoy compelling storytelling, this presentation promises an evening of thought-provoking discussion.