Events

LET ME SPEAK 
A Celebration and Benefit of Free Speech and its Defenders, presented by Macmillan Publishers

Each year NCAC recognizes the notable contributions of Free Speech Defenders whose activism has had a profound impact on the protection of First Amendment rights.

Join us on November 13, 2023, at Tribeca Rooftop, 2 Desbrosses Street, New York, New York, from 6 – 9:30 p.m. ET, as NCAC honors this year’s Free Speech Defenders.  For information regarding tickets and sponsorship opportunities, please contact NCAC’s Chief Strategy and Development Officer, Josh Corday, at [email protected].

Fighting for Press Freedom: How to be an Advocate for Student Journalism

The National Coalition Against Censorship’s Student Advocates for Speech Project and the Student Press Law Center (SPLC) invite you to a live online discussion: “Fighting for Press Freedom: How to be an Advocate for Student Journalism.”

Join teens that are active in fighting press censorship in their high schools and student activists working with SPLC to advocate for New Voices bills. The webinar will feature Rachel Oswald, a foreign policy reporter with CQ Roll Call , who will discuss the value of a free press and the need to advocate for press freedom.

Participation is free, but registration is required.

Are You Free to Read What You Want?

NCAC and the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators hosted a live virtual discussion: Are You Free to Read What You Want? A conversation between students and Banned Authors. Click Here to watch the whole conversation!

A Celebration of Free Speech and Its Defenders: NCAC Annual Benefit

On November 15, 2022, NCAC will honor free speech defenders Colin Kaepernick, George M. Johnson, Michael Bamberger, Edha Gupta, Martha Hickson. Aryeh Neier will receive the Judy Blume Lifetime Achievement Award and Phil Harvey will receive the Leanne G Katz Founder’s Award (in memoriam). Event information here.

How to Fight Book Bans: Student Strategies

On February 28, 2022, NCAC and CBLDF hosted an interactive session to discuss the attacks on books in schools and share strategies for defending the right to read and fighting censorship in schools. Click here to watch the event.

Let Me Speak 2021 Annual Benefit

On November 10th, we hosted our annual Celebration of Free Speech & Its Defenders! Click here to watch the event. Thank you so much to all of our incredible honorees and participants!

Virtual Luncheon: Have We Gone Too Far In Protecting Free Speech?

NCAC presents leading voices in free speech discussing how free speech protections have shaped our lives and whether that protection strengthens or harms democracy–and society–in our current world. One of America’s preeminent free speech trial attorneys, Martin Garbus, joins Harvard Law School Professor Randall Kennedy in conversation, moderated by Professor Emily Knox. Click here to view the conversation.

Conversations on Censorship: Workshop on Race (for members of the National Council of Teachers of English)

On May 13th, NCAC facilitated a workshop for NCTE members on issues of censorship related to race. Participants exchanged expertise in a peer-to-peer format, and conversations will be entirely confidential. The workshop began with an introduction by Gordon Danning from the National Coalition against Censorship (NCAC), an overview of NCAC and NCTE resources, current cases, and important information for educators dealing with issues of censorship focused on race. Participants brought their own experiences, concerns, and/or case studies to discuss all aspects of censorship cases, from planning to challenge to resolution.

How to Tell A Story in a Minute: A Free Filmmaking & Free Expression Workshop

On February 27th, NYFA faculty taught a free workshop on How To Tell A Story In A Minute with tips for filmmaking at home and National Coalition Against Censorship discussed students’ free expression rights to launch the 2021 Youth Free Expression Film Contest.

Virtual Luncheon: Resolving Tensions over Race and Representation in Public Art

This discussion explores the various approaches to resolving tensions around challenged murals and public art, including shrouding or relocating artworks, commissioning new works, innovative course offerings, and public programs. Our participants examine the context and outcomes in a select number of cases. Click here to view the virtual luncheon.

Let Me Speak 2020 Annual Benefit