Freedom Forum Announces Honorees for Ninth Annual Free Expression Awards 

Floyd Abrams, W. Kamau Bell, Sharon McMahon and The Independent Florida Alligator to be honored at The Anthem on June 25.

WASHINGTON, D.C. (June 10, 2025) — Freedom Forum, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to fostering First Amendment freedoms for all, today announced the honorees for the 2025 Free Expression Awards. The ninth annual awards gala will take place on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, at The Anthem in Washington, D.C.

First held in 2016, the Free Expression Awards recognize individuals and organizations who have championed or celebrated free expression and the First Amendment in ways that have inspired others. Spanning the fields of law, entertainment and education, this year’s honorees are:

• Floyd Abrams — A legendary First Amendment lawyer whose landmark legal victories have shaped modern interpretations of press freedom and free speech. Abrams has been a tireless advocate for constitutional rights throughout his career.
• W. Kamau Bell — An award-winning TV host, comedian and filmmaker, Bell has used humor and storytelling to elevate underrepresented voices and challenge societal norms, embodying the spirit of fearless expression.
• Sharon McMahon — Known to millions as “America’s Government Teacher,” McMahon is a bestselling author and founder of “The Preamble” newsletter. Her nonpartisan educational content empowers citizens with civic knowledge and encourages respectful dialogue across political divides.

The Independent Florida Alligator, the student-run newspaper at the University of Florida, will also be honored with the Al Neuharth Award for Excellence in the Media for its commitment to independent journalism and fostering an informed student press. This prestigious award is named after USA TODAY and Freedom Forum founder Al Neuharth and was first presented to Walter Cronkite in 1989.

NBC4 anchor Shawn Yancy will emcee the evening’s program, which will feature speeches from the honorees and a performance by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington.  W. Kamau Bell and Sharon McMahon will also join senior correspondent and former anchor and managing editor of “PBS News Hour” Judy Woodruff for a conversation about the importance of Americans exercising their First Amendment freedoms.

“The courage, creativity and conviction of this year’s honorees serve as an inspiration to all about the importance of our First Amendment freedoms,” said Jan Neuharth, chair and CEO of Freedom Forum. “We are proud to celebrate their extraordinary impact and unwavering commitment to free expression.”

Previous Free Expression Award honorees include country singer Eric Church, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Apple CEO Tim Cook, filmmaker Ava DuVernay and the late Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny.

For tickets, sponsorship opportunities or more information, visit www.freedomforum.org/freeexpressionawards.