Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions
| Abbreviation | ASFAR |
|---|---|
| Motto | Ability, not age |
| Formation | 1997 |
| Type | Nonprofit corporation |
| Legal status | 501(c)(3) public charity |
| Purpose | Youth rights |
| Headquarters | Chicago, IL, United States |
|
Membership
|
1,600+ |
| Leader |
Max Harmony (President) Susan Wishnetsky (Secretary) |
|
Main organ
|
Board of Directors |
|
Budget
|
Shoestring |
| Website | Facebook.com/FreeFromAge |
Max Harmony (President)
Americans for a Society Free from Age Restrictions, also known as ASFAR Youth Liberation, is an organization dedicated to increasing the rights of youth under American law. The purpose of ASFAR is to "defend and advance the civil and human rights of young people through promoting the elimination and reform of laws that limit the freedom and self-determination of young people in the United States, and empowering young people to act on their own behalf in defense of their rights and freedoms." ASFAR is associated with the youth rights movement, which advocates more freedom for young people and protection of their rights under law, in order to allow them the greatest degree of self-determination possible.
ASFAR, originally an email list organization, was founded in 1996 by Matt Walcoff and Matt Herman, two individuals who felt that age restrictions in the U.S. had gone too far. The small project grew into what could be called a legitimate organization. In 1999, ASFAR was incorporated in Missouri.
Within a year of its founding, ASFAR developed internal conflicts that would ultimately split the organization. Disputes over internal affairs and over the Declaration of Principles would lead to the creation of two factions. One group, which included the majority of the membership at that time, called for a detailed and radical declaration of principles and a high degree of membership involvement in the formation of policy. This faction took the name of the group literally and insisted the organization oppose all age restrictions as a matter of principle.
The other faction, led by Herman and Walcoff, called for a more traditional organization, led by a board of directors and with a smaller, more pragmatic set of policy positions. This latter group would leave to form the more visible and active National Youth Rights Association (NYRA).
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