AUTHORS

“Censorship happens often when you least expect it. My life has been changed by the NCAC, an enormously effective organization.”

Judy Blume, author

“The letter (defending The Miseducation of Cameron Post) is absolutely wonderful: thank you for all your work on this, and for all of the work you do every day to call attention to, and combat, acts of censorship.”

emily danforth, author

“What I love about the National Coalition Against Censorship, is that for 40 years, they’ve been fighting those people who regard the First Amendment as embarrassing, those people who would take books away from you, take books away from your kids… it’s a fantastic 40 years, and I’m honored to be part of this celebration.”

Neil Gaiman, author

“The work that you and the NCAC is doing is much appreciated.”

Bette Greene, author

“Big thx to the NCAC and The Etiwanda School Board in San Bernardino County. X Big hug to San Bernardino! Love, Todd”

Todd Parr, author

TEACHERS AND PARENTS

“Taking a stand in support of free speech can be an intimidating experience, especially as a public school teacher…I found that once a few were willing to take a stand [against the removal of The Perks of Being a Wallflower], others were inspired to do the same. NCAC was with us every step of the way, offering advice and encouragement. And we were able to show our students that everything we tried to teach in the classroom was true-that a few people willing to put in the effort can achieve their goals.”

Kelly Coleman, teacher in Glen Ellyn, IL

“Thank you for the excellent letter. I agree with your comments and may be quoting some of your letter during the discussion on June 1st about Of Mice and Men.”

Tom Hearn, school board member in Coeur d’Alene, ID

“When you go to sleep tonight, take comfort in knowing that 3,000 miles away, there is a drama teacher, a class of students and a tired old arbitration advocate most grateful and appreciative of the efforts made by you, Max and your organization toward shining some light in the faces of those protectors of darkness…. Your efforts and those of your organization are much appreciated and are reflective of the tremendous contributions you are making toward the establishment and maintenance of a free society.”

Bill Gordon, teachers’ representative

“Some nice people in New York gave me an award that included a grant to a not-for-profit organization, and I decided to give some of it to NCAC. Your unwavering support over the last three years has meant more than you can imagine. I’ll always be grateful to you, and I hope you’ll accept the enclosed check as a token of my gratitude.”

Gloria Pipkin, activist and former Florida teacher

“Would I, a Christian with deep spiritual beliefs, have chosen a book that contains religious skepticism? ABSOLUTELY. Reading a book where the character doubts the existence of God no more turns my child away from what I have tried to teach than reading Romeo and Juliet is going to make him suicidal.” She later tweeted: “I appreciate @ncacensorship helping me understand nuances of #censorship.”

Paula Kiger, parent in Tallahassee, FL

“Thank you for taking the time to advocate for our children and community. I am in receipt of your letter and am deeply moved.”

Cara James, parent in Sweet Home, OR

STUDENTS

“I have used this website for most of my researching and it has been a great help. I have enjoyed learning about all the different things that are censored and believe me, I have been outraged by a few.”

Sydney Ponteri, student

“I am a big supporter of your cause and believe that censorship is against the American way. I believe that people should be able to read whatever they want and say whatever they want. I am really happy with what you are fighting for. You guys and girls truly are freedom fighters. Please keep up the fight and good work.”

Patrick Fuller, student

“I appreciate all your work so far, and please know that the NCAC website was a tremendous support in making my case to state administration.”

Jared Wells, student

“Thank you again for what your organization and similar groups do. Your goals will make the informal community of gamers a safer place for us and stop people who don’t understand from censoring us.

Omar, student in Pennsylvania

ARTISTS

I want to thank Svetlana Mintcheva for all her help and the National Coalition Against Censorship for all their support for getting my painting “Free Spirit Fairy” back up at the Norman Feldheym Central Library Gallery in San Bernardino, Ca. If it wasn’t for organizations like yours, artists will have to fight this ourselves. I want to thank all of you, again.”

Rose M. Loya, artist

LIBRARIANS

“You make me realize how important it is for library media specialists to step up and protect the student’s freedoms, even though it is not always easy!”

Sue Reichert, librarian

“Please know how grateful I am for the concern you expressed in such a timely fashion. Your counsel was valuable and needed.”

Kenneth Duchac, Director of the Brooklyn Public Library

“You made so many good suggestions about people to contact, points to emphasize in supporting the book, and suggestions for dealing with the media. I appreciate the people and organizations you contacted in my behalf. Above all, your personal support made me feel you were right here with me when I was feeling very alone.”

Hila Garms, librarian in Iowa

“Thank you so much! I just needed someone else to confirm that my feelings were valid about this decision. I ultimately lost my job over this. The Facebook and Twitter publicity is great. Has it been released to any of the local news agencies? I would love this to go public locally. You have done so much and done it so professionally, something I couldn’t do myself. I am so grateful!”

Jenny, librarian in Florida

FREE SPEECH ADVOCATES

“I am proud of you, grateful to you and honored to be associated with you!”

Rev. W.W. Finlator, retired minister, Pullen Memorial Baptist Church, Raleigh, North Carolina

“I write to thank you for all your help in my debate against the local Director of the Campaign against Pornography. The debate went so well that I believe the entire audience, except for his family, ended up agreeing with me. I was impressed with the facility of your help and the apparent vast scope of your information.”

Rev. John Swomley, Kansas City, MO

“I have reported on support for the left-wing National Coalition Against Censorship and their support for pornography. I plan to continue to do so.”

Donald Wildmon, President, American Family Association

“Information about censorship activities is essential to intelligent professional action. NCAC plays a crucial role in both informing and linking professional organizations who seek protection for the freedom to teach and the freedom to learn.”

Carole Hahn, past president, National Council of the Social Studies

“I have long followed with considerable admiration the vigilant efforts of NCAC in pursuit of intellectual freedom and freedom of expression and inquiry.”

Robert O’Neil, Director, Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression

“There are a staggering number of free expression issues flaring at any one time in the United States.  When I have a question about a new controversy, I turn to Joan Bertin and her staff for answers. After forty years on the frontlines, the breadth of NCAC’s knowledge about censorship – and how to fight it – is unrivaled.  Every individual who believes in the freedom to explore, think, and create should support NCAC.”

Chris Finan, Director, American Booksellers for Free Expression

“NCAC’s work is important simply because freedom of thought, inquiry, and expression is crucial to the advance of science and to honest and accurate science education. The National Center for Science Education is proud to partner with NCAC in defending the integrity of science education against attempts to censor and distort the consensus of the scientific community on such fundamental topics as evolution and climate change.”

Glenn Branch, Deputy Director, National Center for Science Education

“The Woodhull Freedom Foundation wholeheartedly supports the anti-censorship efforts of NCAC. Erotic expression has historically been one of the prime targets of government censorship, and legal cases involving this form of speech have driven many of the important advances in First Amendment law over the years. Woodhull’s devotion to the protection of sexual expression as a fundamental human right dovetails with the broader mission of NCAC, which fights censorship in all its insidious forms.  We are proud to continue our work with NCAC and give our full support to its mission.”

Ricci Levy, Executive Director, Woodhull Freedom Foundation

“We support NCAC because it brings together a wide range of voices in defense of free expression and supports educators, students and community activists in fighting censorship threats and keeping books freely available in schools and  libraries across the country.”

Judith Platt, Director, Free Expression Advocacy, Association of American Publishers

“I just read the NCAC’s excellent, helpful, important Cyber-Library policy paper at your website (which gets better and better), and I thought I’d drop you a line to thank you for that and for everything else the NCAC has been doing recently.”

Jim D’Entremont, Boston Coalition for Freedom of Expression

“Thank you for your efforts to fight similar censorship attempts in other areas of the country. We don’t feel so alone in this fight.”

Charles Brittain, Citizens Supporting Open Libraries

“NCAC takes on the tough issues and sticks up for the unpopular viewpoints that not everyone wants to defend, keeping infringement of First Amendment rights at bay and ensuring that everyone has their say.”

Arnie Robbins, American Society of News Editors