{{short description|American progressive advocacy group}} {{Infobox organization | name = People For the American Way | logo = File:People for the American Way Logo.jpg | type = Advocacy group | founded = {{start date and age|1980|9|4}}<ref name= corp>"[https://corp.dcra.dc.gov/BizEntity.aspx/ViewEntityData?entityId=2768814 People for the American Way]{{Dead link|date=May 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}". ''District of Columbia Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs''. Government of the District of Columbia; accessed May 7, 2016.</ref> | founder = Norman Lear | location = Washington, D.C. | region_served = United States | focus = Progressive/liberal advocacy | method = Media attention, direct-appeal campaigns | tax_id = 52-1366721<ref name= corp/> | status = 501(c)(4) social welfare organization<ref name= corp/> | num_employees = | num_employees_year = | revenue = $6.5 million<ref name=propublica>{{cite web |title=People For The American Way - Nonprofit Explorer |url=https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/521366721 |website=ProPublica |access-date=16 September 2025 |language=en |date=9 May 2013}}</ref> | revenue_year = 2023 | expenses = $9.05 million<ref name=propublica/> | expenses_year = 2023 | leader_name = Lara Bergthold<ref name="pfaw-board">"[http://www.pfaw.org/about-us/board Board of Directors] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150315014313/http://www.pfaw.org/about-us/board |date=2015-03-15 }}". People for the American Way. Retrieved May 7, 2016.</ref> | leader_title = Chair | leader_name2 = Michael Keegan<ref name= staff>"[http://www.pfaw.org/about-us/staff Staff] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160515213127/http://www.pfaw.org/about-us/staff |date=2016-05-15 }}". ''People for the American Way. Accessed on May 7, 2016.</ref> | leader_title3 = President | leader_name3 = Svante Myrick | affiliations = {{bulleted list|People for the American Way Foundation|People for the American Way Voters Alliance|People for the American Way Action Fund}} | website = {{URL|peoplefor.org}} }} {{Progressivism|organizations}}
'''People for the American Way''' ('''PFAW''' {{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|f|ɔː}}) is a progressive advocacy group in the United States.<ref>{{cite book |last=Lasley|first=Thomas J. II |title=Encyclopedia of Educational Reform and Dissent |date=2010 |publisher=SAGE |isbn=9781412956642 |page=212 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=b1UGM0CHOGAC&pg=PA212 |access-date=11 August 2018 |language=en |archive-date=20 January 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120061229/https://books.google.com/books?id=b1UGM0CHOGAC&pg=PA212 |url-status=live }}</ref> Organized as a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, PFAW was registered in 1981 by the television producer Norman Lear,<ref name="hollywood">{{cite news|last1=Day|first1=Patrick Kevin|date=October 7, 2011|title=Norman Lear Celebrates 30 Years of People For the American Way|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/norman-lear-celebrates-30-years-245672|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125021431/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/norman-lear-celebrates-30-years-245672}}</ref> a self-described liberal<ref>{{Cite web|title=At 89, Norman Lear still pushing for the 'American Way'|url=https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/256899-judy-kurtz|last=Yingling|first=Jennifer|date=2011-10-11|website=The Hill|language=en|access-date=2020-05-28|archive-date=2021-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022203952/https://thehill.com/blogs/in-the-know/in-the-know/256899-judy-kurtz|url-status=live}}</ref> who founded the organization in 1980 to challenge the Christian right agenda of the Moral Majority.
While publicly known as People for the American Way since its inception, the group only legally held this name from 1985 to 1998.<ref name=history /> From 1981 to 1985, the group's official name was Citizen for Constitutional Concerns Inc.<ref name=history /> The group was officially renamed "People for the American Way Foundation" in 1998.<ref name=history />
==History== PFAW was founded by the television producer Norman Lear in opposition to the publicized agenda of the Moral Majority, a prominent and influential American political organization associated with the Christian right.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Reeves|first1=Richard|title=What is the American Way of Life?|url=http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/05/13/what_is_the_american_way_of_life_96463.html|access-date=May 7, 2015|website=Real Clear Politics|date=May 13, 2009|archive-date=May 18, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518063300/http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2009/05/13/what_is_the_american_way_of_life_96463.html|url-status=live}}<br>- {{cite book|last1=Djupe|first1=Paul|last2=Olson|first2=Laura|title=Encyclopedia of American Religion and Politics|date=2014|publisher=Infobase Publishing|isbn=9781438130200|page=287}}</ref> Officially incorporated on September 4, 1980,<ref name= corp/> its co-founders included Democratic congresswoman Barbara Jordan, University of Notre Dame president Theodore Hesburgh and Time Inc. chairman and CEO Andrew Heiskell.<ref name=history /><ref>{{Cite web |title=People For's Founding Mission Statement |url=https://www.pfaw.org/about-us/founding-mission-statement/ |access-date=2024-01-20 |website=People For the American Way |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="npr">{{cite news|last1=Evans|first1=Will|date=September 30, 2008|title=McCain, GOP Senators Challenged On Pay Equity For Women|publisher=NPR|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/secretmoney/2008/09/mccain_challenged_on_judges.html/|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=June 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603190208/https://www.npr.org/sections/secretmoney/2008/09/mccain_challenged_on_judges.html}}</ref> PFAW began as a project of the Tides Foundation,<ref>''[https://www.tides.org/fileadmin/user/pdf/Tides_25-Years_2000.pdf 1976–2001: 25 Years of Working Toward Positive Social Change] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161020162658/http://www.tides.org/fileadmin/user/pdf/Tides_25-Years_2000.pdf |date=2016-10-20 }}''. Tides Foundation, 2001. p. 8. Retrieved August 26, 2016. "[Timeline, 1980] ... Norman Lear and others launch a Tides project: People for the American Way".</ref> a donor-advised fund that directs money to politically liberal causes.<ref>{{cite web|title=History|url=http://www.tides.org/about/history/|publisher=Tides|access-date=May 7, 2015|archive-date=May 4, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150504214029/http://www.tides.org/about/history|url-status=live}} See also, Hewat, N. Campaigning for Educational Policy Reform: An Ecological Analysis of a 'People for the American Way' Grassroots Organizing Phenomenon, doctoral dissertation, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1986.</ref>
Among the group's most frequent targets were Jerry Falwell, Jimmy Swaggart and Pat Robertson.<ref name=history /><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yJ9txWojyRQC&dq=%22people+for+the+american+way%22+and+televangelist+and+%22norman+lear%22&pg=PA161|title=Strategic Management for Nonprofit Organizations: Theory and Cases|first=Sharon M.|last=Oster|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=May 11, 1995|accessdate=June 22, 2025}}</ref>
Though always publicly known as People for the American Way, the group was originally trademarked as "Citizens for Constitutional Concerns Inc." prior to officially taking the "People for the American Way" name in 1985.<ref name=history>{{cite web|url=https://findingaids.loc.gov/exist_collections/ead3pdf/mss/2015/ms015030.pdf|title=People for the American Way and People for the American Way Foundation Records|publisher=Library of Congress|date=2015|accessdate=June 22, 2025}}</ref>
Former presidents of PFAW include Arthur Kropp,<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 19, 1995 |title=Arthur Kropp; President of People for the American Way |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-19-mn-14735-story.html |url-status=live |access-date=2022-07-07 |website=Los Angeles Times |archive-date=2022-07-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220707183620/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-06-19-mn-14735-story.html }}</ref> Tony Podesta,<ref>{{cite news|last1=Miles|first1=Sara|title=Do YOU Know Tony Podesta?|url=http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/6.12/podesta_pr.html|access-date=6 May 2015|magazine=Wired|archive-date=18 May 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518074442/http://archive.wired.com/wired/archive/6.12/podesta_pr.html|url-status=live}}</ref> and Ralph Neas.<ref>{{cite news|title=People for the American Way President Ralph Neas Discusses Opposition to Ashcroft for Attorney General|url=http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0101/16/ee.14.html|access-date=May 6, 2015|publisher=CNN|date=January 16, 2001|archive-date=May 24, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150524213218/http://www.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0101/16/ee.14.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Soon after its founding, PFAW launched an affiliated 501(c)(3) organization, People for the American Way Foundation, for the purpose of conducting more extensive educational and research activities for liberal causes.<ref>{{cite news|last=Glanz|first=James|title=Survey Finds Support Is Strong For Teaching 2 Origin Theories|url=https://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40D15F83F5F0C728DDDAA0894D8404482|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120714054503/http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40D15F83F5F0C728DDDAA0894D8404482|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 14, 2012|newspaper=The New York Times|date=March 11, 2000}}</ref> "People for the American Way Foundation" would also become the group's legal name in 1998.<ref name=history /> From 2004 to 2008, major donors to PFAW's foundation included George Soros' Open Society Institute, the Miriam G. and Ira D. Wallach Foundation, the Bauman Family Foundation, and the Evelyn and Walter Haas Jr. Fund.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Will |date=30 September 2008 |title=McCain, GOP Senators Challenged On Pay Equity For Women |url=https://www.npr.org/sections/secretmoney/2008/09/mccain_challenged_on_judges.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603190208/https://www.npr.org/sections/secretmoney/2008/09/mccain_challenged_on_judges.html |archive-date=2020-06-03 |access-date=2020-06-03 |website=NPR.org |language=en}}</ref>
In 1998, the People for the American Way Voters Alliance was launched as a political action committee.<ref>Goodstein, Laurie (November 5, 1998). "[https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/05/us/1998-elections-congress-right-religious-conservatives-stung-vote-losses-blame.html The 1998 Elections: Congress – The Right; Religious Conservatives, Stung by Vote Losses, Blame G.O.P. for Focusing on Clinton] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180131062609/http://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/05/us/1998-elections-congress-right-religious-conservatives-stung-vote-losses-blame.html |date=2018-01-31 }}". ''The New York Times''. nytimes.com. Retrieved November 2, 2018. The article characterizes PFAW's Voters Alliance as its "new political action committee".</ref>
==Activities== PFAW was responsible for the 1982 television special ''I Love Liberty'', which was described by the ''Washington Post'' as "America's first left-wing patriotic rally."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1982/03/20/miss-libertys-left-hand/95cf1c3a-ab82-47fe-8981-7a3f3d2fd965/|title=Miss Liberty's Left Hand|first=Tom|last=Shales|newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 20, 1982|accessdate=December 8, 2023}}</ref> PFAW has also been active in battles over judicial nominations, opposing U.S. Supreme Court nominees Robert Bork and Brett Kavanaugh and supporting the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor.<ref name=Hollywood/><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/11/19/donald-trumps-judges-making-courts-more-conservative-slowly/2005281002/|title=President Trump's conservative court shift may slow down as liberal judges avoid retirement|date=November 19, 2018|work=USA Today|access-date=April 23, 2019|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413224124/https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/11/19/donald-trumps-judges-making-courts-more-conservative-slowly/2005281002/|url-status=live}}</ref> PFAW is also active in federal elections, donating $339,874 to oppose Republican candidates in the 2014 election cycle<ref>{{cite web|title=People For The American Way|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cycle=2014&cmte=People+for+the+American+Way|publisher=OpenSecrets|access-date=2015-05-07|archive-date=2015-09-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924093134/http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cycle=2014&cmte=People+for+the+American+Way|url-status=live}}</ref> and $351,075 to oppose Republican candidates in the 2016 election cycle.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cycle=2016&cmte=People+for+the+American+Way|title=People for the American Way Outside Spending|publisher=OpenSecrets|access-date=2018-09-19|archive-date=2018-09-20|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920011507/http://www.opensecrets.org/outsidespending/detail.php?cycle=2016&cmte=People+for+the+American+Way|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== ''Right Wing Watch'' === PFAW's '''''Right Wing Watch''''' project is a website that catalogs statements of public figures whom they label as right-wing, including politicians, preachers, and others, with a focus on hate speech and right-wing conspiracy theories.<ref name="Ingram">{{Cite web |title=YouTube reinstates channel devoted to exposing conservative extremism |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/youtube-reinstates-channel-devoted-exposing-conservative-extremism-rcna1286 |access-date=2022-07-06 |website=NBC News |date=30 June 2021 |language=en |archive-date=2022-08-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220826231659/https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/youtube-reinstates-channel-devoted-exposing-conservative-extremism-rcna1286 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=Baragona>{{Cite news|last=Baragona|first=Justin|date=2021-06-28|title=YouTube Bans and Then Unbans Right Wing Watch, a Media Watchdog Devoted to Exposing Right-Wing Conspiracies|language=en|work=The Daily Beast|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/youtube-permanently-bans-right-wing-watch-a-media-watchdog-devoted-to-exposing-right-wing-conspiracies|access-date=2021-06-28|archive-date=2021-06-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210628162012/https://www.thedailybeast.com/youtube-permanently-bans-right-wing-watch-a-media-watchdog-devoted-to-exposing-right-wing-conspiracies|url-status=live}}</ref> The web site was founded in 2007, expanding on PFAW's earlier practice of VHS recording clips from television programs such as Pat Robertson's ''The 700 Club'', for distribution to news media.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-b-keegan/right-wing-watch-10-years_b_12443186.html|title=Right Wing Watch: 10 Years Of Fighting The Right... With Their Own Words|last=Keegan|first=Michael|work=HuffPost|date=11 October 2016|access-date=1 October 2018|archive-date=2 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170902193524/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-b-keegan/right-wing-watch-10-years_b_12443186.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2013, evangelist and politician Gordon Klingenschmitt sent DMCA takedown notices to YouTube against ''Right Wing Watch''{{'}}s channel based on copyright claims. The Electronic Frontier Foundation provided legal counsel to ''Right Wing Watch'' to defend their channel and posts against YouTube's actions.<ref>{{cite web|date=December 8, 2013|title=Attempt to Silence the Political Speech at Right Wing Watch|url=https://www.eff.org/takedowns/attempt-silence-political-speech-right-wing-watch|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2021|work=Electronic Frontier Foundation|archive-date=December 20, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201220033804/https://www.eff.org/takedowns/attempt-silence-political-speech-right-wing-watch}}</ref>
In 2014, HGTV withdrew from plans to produce a television series with Jason and David Benham after ''Right Wing Watch'' made an issue of their statements about homosexuality.<ref>{{cite web|date=May 8, 2014|title=HGTV Drops Benham Brothers' 'Flip It Forward' After Anti-Gay Views Are Unearthed|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hgtv-benham-brothers-anti-gay_n_5287322|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2021|work=HuffPost|archive-date=December 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201209113550/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/hgtv-benham-brothers-anti-gay_n_5287322}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=France|first=Lisa Respers|date=May 9, 2014|title=Benham brothers lose HGTV show after 'anti-gay' remarks|work=CNN|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/08/showbiz/tv/benham-brothers-hgtv/|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125144532/http://edition.cnn.com/2014/05/08/showbiz/tv/benham-brothers-hgtv/}}</ref>
In 2018, Salon.com and ''The Daily Telegraph'' credited Jared Holt, a ''Right Wing Watch'' researcher, for causing the removal of Alex Jones's ''InfoWars'' program from multiple content distribution sites, including Apple, Inc, YouTube, Facebook, and Spotify.<ref>{{cite web|last=Marcotte|first=Amanda|author-link=Amanda Marcotte|date=August 8, 2018|title=Meet Jared Holt, the guy who's getting Alex Jones kicked off the internet|url=https://www.salon.com/2018/08/08/meet-jared-holt-the-guy-whos-getting-alex-jones-kicked-off-the-internet/|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2021|work=Salon|archive-date=February 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210201063512/https://www.salon.com/2018/08/08/meet-jared-holt-the-guy-whos-getting-alex-jones-kicked-off-the-internet/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last=Bernal|first=Natasha|date=August 10, 2018|title=The man who sparked the revolt against Infowars and Alex Jones with a single tweet|work=The Daily Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/08/10/man-sparked-revolt-against-infowars-alex-jones-single-tweet/|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=October 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181002020129/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/2018/08/10/man-sparked-revolt-against-infowars-alex-jones-single-tweet/}}</ref> Afterwards, Holt said he received death threats.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bonn|first=Tess|date=August 9, 2018|title=Researcher who helped kick Infowars's Alex Jones off Spotify received death threats|work=The Hill|url=https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/401115-twitter-user-who-helped-kick-alex-jones-off-spotify-received-death-threats|url-status=live|access-date=February 1, 2021|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109020234/https://thehill.com/hilltv/rising/401115-twitter-user-who-helped-kick-alex-jones-off-spotify-received-death-threats}}</ref>
In June 2021, ''Right Wing Watch''<nowiki/>'s YouTube channel, which had been operating for about 10 years, was temporarily suspended by YouTube, who stated that the suspension had been an accident.<ref name=Ingram/><ref name=Baragona/> At the time, the channel had about 47,000 subscribers.<ref name=Ingram/>
==Leadership== Michael Keegan served as the organization's president for 11 years through June 2020.<ref>Kurtz, Josh (June 8, 2020). "[https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/06/08/a-new-gig-for-ben-jealous/ A New Gig for Ben Jealous] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701024236/https://www.marylandmatters.org/2020/06/08/a-new-gig-for-ben-jealous/ |date=2020-07-01 }}". ''Maryland Matters''. Retrieved June 28, 2020.</ref> On June 15, 2020, Ben Jealous succeeded Keegan as president,<ref>Marino, Pam (June 2, 2020). "[http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/news_blog/monterey-county-native-ben-jealous-tapped-to-lead-nonprofit-fighting-right-wing-extremism/article_f1ce2b0c-a526-11ea-bd4e-9fc429764767.html Monterey County native Ben Jealous tapped to lead nonprofit fighting right-wing extremism] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200603201336/http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/blogs/news_blog/monterey-county-native-ben-jealous-tapped-to-lead-nonprofit-fighting-right-wing-extremism/article_f1ce2b0c-a526-11ea-bd4e-9fc429764767.html |date=2020-06-03 }}". ''Monterey County Weekly''. Retrieved June 28, 2020.</ref><ref>Ford, William J. (June 24, 2020). "[https://www.washingtoninformer.com/ben-jealous-racism-is-tragic-racism-is-alive/ Ben Jealous: ‘Racism is Tragic, Racism is Alive’] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200627180722/https://www.washingtoninformer.com/ben-jealous-racism-is-tragic-racism-is-alive/ |date=2020-06-27 }}". ''The Washington Informer''. Retrieved June 28, 2020.</ref> and Svante Myrick succeeded Jealous as president on November 14, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pfaw.org/press-releases/svante-myrick-named-incoming-president-of-people-for-the-american-way// |title=Svante Myrick Named President of People for the American Way - People for the American Way |date=14 November 2022 |access-date=2023-01-03 |archive-date=2023-01-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230103062117/https://www.pfaw.org/press-releases/svante-myrick-named-incoming-president-of-people-for-the-american-way/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Myrick abruptly resigned as mayor of Ithaca, New York, to take that position.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Lee |date=2023-01-23 |title=Wall Street's Big Bet on Rewiring America |url=https://prospect.org/api/content/944a2dd0-98d2-11ed-911b-12b3f1b64877/ |access-date=2023-01-23 |website=The American Prospect |language=en-us}}</ref> Members of the group's board of directors include Cristela Alonzo, Alec Baldwin, Seth MacFarlane, Joel Madden, Bertis Downs IV, Dolores Huerta, Josh Sapan, Howie Klein, Alyssa Milano, David Saperstein, Margery Tabankin, Reg Weaver, and Carrie Mae Weems.<ref name="pfaw-board"/>
== See also ==
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{official website|https://www.peoplefor.org/}}
{{Norman Lear}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:People For The American Way}} Category:501(c)(4) nonprofit organizations Category:Church–state separation advocacy organizations Category:Civil liberties advocacy groups in the United States Category:Government watchdog groups in the United States Category:Immigration political advocacy groups in the United States Category:LGBTQ political advocacy groups in the United States Category:Legal advocacy organizations in the United States Category:Non-profit organizations based in Washington, D.C. Category:Norman Lear Category:Organizations established in 1980 Category:People for the American Way Category:Political advocacy groups in the United States Category:Separation of church and state in the United States Category:Progressive organizations in the United States Category:1980 establishments in the United States