Stand with Us for
Global Freedom
Join us in amplifying the voices of those who have risked their lives to stand up against oppression. Together, we can make a difference in the fight for democracy and human rights.












Our work
From the Frontlines
FOF is a groundbreaking network of dissidents and activists committed to championing democracy and freedoms around the world. By sharing their firsthand accounts from the frontlines of the fight against authoritarians, we seek to inspire Americans and others in the free world to value and protect their own freedoms.

What We Do
Frontline Fellows
Our Frontline Fellows are a vital network, fostering professional, personal, and political support for one another and the global pro-democracy movement.
FOF on Campus
Our campus program brings the activist perspective to students across the country, deepening their understanding of the geopolitical landscape, the reality of oppression, and America’s role on the world stage.
Sharing Stories
We amplify the voices of courageous dissidents to expose authoritarian threats, kickstart democracy’s survival instinct, and illuminate the path to a freer, more just world.
Conference Highlight

Frontlines of Freedom
RDI hosts our annual FOF Conference to explore policies to combat transnational repression and foreign authoritarian influence in open societies. We bring together activists, journalists, policymakers, and business leaders to address the scope of the authoritarian threat on our shores, what America can do to defend itself, and how democracies can begin to work together to reinvigorate our shared survival instinct.
Freedom Masterclass
The Freedom Masterclass series, led by visionary activists and thought leaders, empowers individuals to embrace their unique stories, unlock their leadership potential, and inspire meaningful change.
FRONTLINE FELLOWS
Our Frontline Fellows are uniquely positioned to break through partisan shields and reveal the dangerous influence of authoritarians, demonstrate how these dictators are collaborating, and most importantly, remind Americans and the wider Free World how inspirational our democracies truly are and how important they are to defend.

Felix Maradiaga
Nicaragua
RDI Senior Fellow

David Smolansky
Venezuela
Frontline Fellow, 2024-2025 RDI Dissident-in-Residence at Johns Hopkins University SNF Agora Institute

Dalia Ziada
Egypt
Frontline Fellow

Carolina Barrero
Cuba
Frontline Fellow

Evan Mawarire
Zimbabwe
Frontline Fellow, 2022-2023 RDI Dissident-in-Residence at Johns Hopkins University SNF Agora Institute
Join Us on the Frontlines
The fight for freedom is a generational one—and we can’t do it alone. We need your support to amplify the voices of those standing up to oppression, inspire action through powerful storytelling, and build a global community committed to defending democracy. Join us in making a difference today.

VOICES OF FREEDOM WITH CNN
RDI launched Frontlines of Freedom in 2021 through a partnership with CNN called “Voices of Freedom,” elevating the inspiring stories of 13 democracy dissidents who shared their firsthand experiences of dictatorship as a stark reminder to Americans of the value of their own democracy.

Garry Kasparov
Russia
“Our generation will either renew democracy–or lose it forever.”

Fatou Jaw Manneh
The Gambia
“Our deepest fear for America–and the world.”

Leopoldo Lopez
Venezuela
“What I learned about freedom from a 2×2 Venezuelan prison cell.”

Marina Nema
Iran
“Your rights could be taken away rapidly. I know because it happened to me.”

Andrei Sannikov & Alexander Vindman
Belarus & The US
“One of us was tortured for fighting a dictator. The other was fired for blowing the whistle on Donald Trump.”

Wai Hnin Pwint Thon
Burma
“I met my dad for the first time when I was four, and he was behind bars.”

Masih Alinejad
Iran
“Exiled Iranian says the regime is scared for her.”

Claudia Escobar Mejia
Guatemala
“Why this judge rejected a bribe from Congress.”

Nathan Law
Hong Kong
“Democracy is not only Hong Kong’s fight.”

Evan Mawarire
Zimbabwe
“A moment of desperation with his country’s flag made this pastor go viral.”

Sochua Mu
Cambodia
“Why the Cambodian regime is trying to silence me.”

Mohamed Soltan
Egypt
“Two years in an Egyptian prison taught me this.”

Nury Turkel
Uyghur Region
“I was born in a Chinese ‘reeducation camp.’ I’m watching history repeat itself.”
Stay Informed, Stay Engaged

Become a Frontline Fellow
Be part of the movement for freedom and democracy. If you are a dissident or activist with a story to share and are looking for community, contact our Frontlines of Freedom Program Director Caitlin Forrest to learn more about our Frontline Fellows program.