Press Releases

Free Speech and Educational Advocacy Organizations Call on Baltimore City School Administrators to Restore BUCK in Classrooms

By |2020-01-03T15:48:55-05:00December 19th, 2017|Press Releases|

An Open Letter to the Baltimore City Public School District: The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and its partners in the Kids’ Right to Read Project urge administrators to return BUCK: A Memoir by Professor M.K. Asante to the high school curriculum so that students can see their lives reflected in the books they read. Its removal was arbitrary and damaging to students.

NCAC Urges Texas School District to Reverse Ban on The Hate U Give

By |2017-12-07T12:18:06-05:00December 6th, 2017|Press Releases|

Angie Thomas’s The Hate U Give has been removed from school libraries in Katy Independent School District in suburban Houston, Texas. After reviewing the district’s own book review policy, NCAC is formally urging the district’s superintendent to reinstate the book while it is under review.

NCAC Condemns Government Policy Depriving Americans of Access to Art by Guantanamo Detainees

By |2018-01-25T12:48:58-05:00November 28th, 2017|Press Releases|

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) vehemently objects to the violation of the public’s right to access art by Guantanamo detainees and thus fully participate in the political conversation around Guantanamo. The new directive also violates the human rights of the detainees under international norms and further destruction of the work would impermissibly suppress documents of historical importance.

School Cancellation of Muslim Speaker Continues Disturbing National Trend of Suppressing Speech in Response to Threats

By |2017-11-17T15:29:45-05:00November 17th, 2017|Press Releases|

The cancellation of a scheduled appearance by a Muslim guest speaker at a Connecticut public school is the latest disturbing example of suppressions of free speech in museums, on college campuses and now at middle schools in response to threats of violence.

NCAC Criticizes Illinois School’s Decision to Remove Book Prior to Review UPDATE: Book Restored to Curriculum!

By |2017-10-24T16:59:19-04:00October 16th, 2017|Press Releases|

The groups argue the decision to immediately cease teaching the book in response to a single complaint imposes a “heckler’s veto” on the curriculum and deprives all students of their First Amendment right to read a pedagogically valuable, National Book Award-winning novel. UPDATE: Book restored to curriculum!

NCAC Statement Supports Right of Students to Protest During National Anthem

By |2021-02-23T15:41:50-05:00October 10th, 2017|Press Releases|

By banning or discouraging students from participating in protests against racial discrimination, police brutality and other important issues, schools not only violate their First Amendment rights but deny them the opportunity to join a national debate that can contribute to their civic education.

Where to Celebrate Banned Books Week 2017!

By |2020-01-06T00:07:47-05:00September 25th, 2017|Banned Books Week, Press Releases|

Happy Banned Books Week!  The annual celebration of the freedom to read is running all this week, and the Banned Books Week Coalition invites you to participate by getting involved in the incredible activities brought to you by our sponsor organizations! From theatrical performances, bookstore parties, and online advocacy, there’s lots of ways you can help celebrate Our Right to [...]

NCAC Releases Statement in Support of Lincoln Center’s Decision to Host ‘To the End of the Land’ Despite Calls to Cancel the Play

By |2017-07-07T11:51:10-04:00July 7th, 2017|Blog, Press Releases|

Were institutions like Lincoln Center to yield to calls for cancellation coming from the BDS movement or elsewhere, any ensuing conversation would be much impoverished and further polarized.

Even Limited, Trump Administration’s Travel Ban Will Impact Creative Freedom

By |2022-10-03T16:13:53-04:00June 27th, 2017|Blog, Press Releases|

The organizations express grave concern that the Executive Order will have a broad and far-reaching impact on artists’ freedom of movement and, as a result, will seriously inhibit creative freedom, collaboration, and the free flow of ideas.

NCAC Releases Statement Criticizing Walker Art Center’s Decision to Destroy Controversial Sculpture; UPDATE: Sculpture to be Ceremonially Buried

By |2022-10-03T16:26:29-04:00June 9th, 2017|Blog, Press Releases|

NCAC has issued a statement signed by several national and international organizations, opposing the Walker's decision to dismantle and destroy the controversial sculpture.

NCAC Criticizes NC High School’s Decision to Cancel Student Yearbook Featuring Donald Trump Quote

By |2017-05-18T16:18:20-04:00May 15th, 2017|Press Releases|

A public school, the letter argues, has a responsibility to prepare young adults “to exercise the responsibilities of citizenship by promoting democratic values such as free expression, tolerance, and diversity—including diversity of opinion.”

NCAC & Dramatists Legal Defense Fund Demand Minnesota City Officials Apologize for Cancelling Play With Word ‘Mulatto’ in Title

By |2017-05-05T13:50:55-04:00May 5th, 2017|Press Releases|

The letter demands a public apology from the City of Burnsville and urges the City to develop a formal policy governing artistic programming at the Ames Center to ensure it is in compliance with First Amendment requirements.

NCAC Joins HarperCollins for #WhyIRead Campaign, Celebrating Company’s 200th Anniversary

By |2020-01-03T15:45:03-05:00May 2nd, 2017|Press Releases|

As an organization committed to defending authors’ free expression and the right to read, NCAC was selected by HarperCollins employees to receive a donation as part of its #WhyIRead campaign, which pledges to donate $200,000 to charities supporting causes that are important to HarperCollins.

NCAC + Lambda Legal Request Tennessee School Apologize for Removing pro-LGBT Student Artwork

By |2017-04-26T11:42:39-04:00April 26th, 2017|Press Releases|

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and Lambda Legal are calling on a Tennessee high school to apologize for removing a displayed student artwork featuring the word “GAYDOM” and a rainbow motif. The groups demand the drawing be immediately restored, arguing that the school’s justification for the removal-- that some students were offended by the artwork-- violates the student artist’s First Amendment rights.

NCAC Demands Idaho Middle School Retain Popular Manga Novel in Library; UPDATE: Committee Votes to Keep Book

By |2020-01-03T15:44:58-05:00April 24th, 2017|Press Releases|

The notion that the mere presence of inappropriate language and allegedly suggestive images is justification for a book’s removal sets a harmful precedent that, for example, a classic work of literature that contains adult language, or an art history textbook that includes a nude, should also be kept away from teens.

PRESS RELEASE: Free Speech Groups Protest AZ School District’s Unjustifiable Removal of The Kite Runner from English Curriculum

By |2017-04-18T16:15:05-04:00April 12th, 2017|Press Releases|

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and 7 other organizations committed to defending the freedom to read are urging a Arizona school district to reinstate Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner in its English curriculum after the book was removed without explanation or prior review. The groups argue the district’s decision is unwarranted and does an educational disservice to its students by depriving them of access to a novel that explores salient and timely themes.

Free Speech Groups Criticize Politically Motivated Removal of ‘Jacob’s New Dress’ From North Carolina Lesson Plan

By |2017-04-10T14:39:22-04:00April 4th, 2017|Press Releases|

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and 6 other organizations committed to defending the right to read are urging a North Carolina school district to reinstate a children’s book in a 1st grade anti-bullying lesson plan after it was removed following pressure from local Republican lawmakers concerned about its gender-nonconforming themes. The groups express concern that political and ideological motivations were behind the district’s decision to remove the book.

Free Speech Groups Urge New Hampshire Governor to Veto Bill Requiring Educators to Notify Parents Prior to Use of Sex Ed. Materials

By |2017-04-10T14:36:36-04:00April 3rd, 2017|Press Releases|

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and other organizations committed to defending the freedom to read are urging New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu to veto a bill requiring schools to notify parents prior to the teaching of materials with information about human sexuality. The groups argue the bill will stigmatize the teaching of educationally valuable materials and undermine the quality of education in New Hampshire.

Free Speech, Press Groups Call President’s Attacks on the Media a Threat to Democracy

By |2019-04-16T11:45:10-04:00March 2nd, 2017|Press Releases|

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and the American Society of News Editors (ASNE), along with more than 75 other organizations committed to the First Amendment right of freedom of speech and the press, condemn efforts by the Trump administration to demonize the media and undermine its ability to inform the public about official actions and policies. In a joint statement released today, the groups stress that the administration’s attacks on the press pose a threat to American democracy.

Free Speech Groups Defend Black History Month Exhibit Removed on Grounds of Offense

By |2017-02-10T13:59:01-05:00February 10th, 2017|Press Releases|

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Northern California are urging a California High School District to immediately redisplay an exhibition of paintings celebrating Black History Month. The exhibition was abruptly terminated after it was deemed to be politically charged. The groups are also asking the school district to put policies in place that prevent future viewpoint discrimination against artworks.

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