Freedom of Speech is very important to Americans.  In fact, free speech in the United States is protected by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.  In his April 6, 2009 speech in Turkey, President Obama remarked that, “ Freedom of religion and expression lead to a strong and vibrant civil society that only strengthens the state…” You can read the full text of President Obama’s speech here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/Remarks-By-President-Obama-To-The-Turkish-Parliament/

Freedom of expression is also part of Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.  The United Nations recognized the importance of free speech when it designated May 3 as World Press Freedom Day.  This day is meant to raise awareness about the importance of freedom of the press.  UNESCO marks World Press Freedom Day by giving the UNESCO/ Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom prize to someone (it can be a person or group) that has made an outstanding contribution to the defense or promotion of press freedom.  The prize was named after Guillermo Cano Isaza, a Colombian journalist who died in 1986