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Civic Engagement & Democracy

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Civic Engagement & Democracy

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Civic Engagement & Democracy

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Simon Tam is an American author, musician, activist, and keynote speaker. He is the founder and bassist of The Slants, an Asian American dance rock band. He successfully challenged U.S. trademark law in Matal v. Tam, a landmark Supreme Court case that struck down the disparagement clause of the Lanham Act and expanded First Amendment protections in trademark registration. He is the co-founder of The Slants Foundation, a nonprofit focused on culture, identity, and civic engagement.

He has presented at TEDx, SXSW, universities, and Fortune 500 companies on free speech, identity, and activism. He is often described as a “troublemaker” for his work at the intersection of art, advocacy, and civil liberties. His memoir, Slanted: How an Asian American Troublemaker Took on the Supreme Court, has been recognized in numerous curated book lists on constitutional law and free speech, and he his work has been featured in thousands of media outlets worldwide.