Song of Solomon Retained in Indiana AP English Classes
After a couple months of debate, the Franklin Township School Board in Indiana has ruled to retain Song of Solomon in its AP English classes!
NCAC Joins Brief Supporting Car Art
On July 8, 2010, the NCAC joined Texas Civil Rights Project, First Amendment Project, Washington Area Lawyers for the Arts, The Arthouse at the Jones Center, and Big Umbrella Studios in filing a friend of the court brief to the Supreme Court in support of an art display in Texas (Kleinman v. City of San Marcos).
Samia Halaby on Self-Censorship
https://youtu.be/hsRVq4pJiFs?feature=shared Artist Samia Halaby speaking on self-censorship. Halaby made these comments for a special internet video project organized by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at the New School on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Decency Clause. Invited artists are videotaping their responses to the following questions: [...]
Samia Halaby on Public Funding of Art and Alternative Models
https://youtu.be/NZUXgV_ByPI?feature=shared Artist Samia Halaby speaking on the impact of funding on the arts. Halaby made these comments for a special internet video project organized by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the Vera List Center for Art and Politics at the New School on the 20th anniversary of the adoption of the Decency Clause. Invited artists are videotaping [...]
I’m All For Free Speech, BUT…
Announcing the 2010 Youth Free Expression Project Film Contest "I'm All for Free Speech, BUT..." What would you censor, if anything, and why? Film your response in 4 minutes or less. Entries can be videos of any kind, including documentary, animation, experimental, or music video. The top three winners will be awarded cash prizes and the first place winner will [...]
Playwrights On Censorship
On Wednesday, June 23 the National Coalition Against Censorship is hosting an unprecedented conversation between four of America's leading playwrights -- Edward Albee, David Henry Hwang, Terrence McNally and Adam Rapp -- all of whom have experienced censorship of their work. Time Out
The Kid’s Right to Read Project Urges Indiana School to Keep Song of Solomon
As we reported in our latest edition of Censorship News, Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon was recently removed from an Indiana high school’s AP English class on April 28 after a parent and school board members complained about its content. Two days later, the book was returned to the class when a committee of educators and parents ruled in favor of keeping the book. On June 21, the Franklin Township school board will hear an appeal of the committee’s decision.
MMS distorted environmental assessment of offshore drilling in Alaska
MMS distorted environmental assessment of offshore drilling in Alaska (2010) In March 2010, just days before the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report revealed that during the Bush administration, the Minerals Management Service (MMS), the agency responsible for regulating the oil industry, had altered the work of environmental scientists or pressured them to produce environmental [...]
Playwrights On Censorship
The Free Speech Leadership Council gathered on June 23, 2010 for “Playwrights on Censorship: A Conversation with Edward Albee, David Henry Hwang, Terrence McNally, and Adam Rapp.” Time Out New York’s Theater Editor David Cote moderated the discussion and Jane Friedman hosted the event in her Manhattan home.
The Real Story Behind THE METAL CHILDREN: Censorship and Literature
On Friday, June 11 at 6:00pm, at Barnes & Noble in NYC, the Vineyard Theatre presents a discussion on censorship and literature. Using Adam Rapp's personal experience as a starting point, Joan E. Bertin, Brett Gary and Mr. Rapp himself, with moderator Jeremy McCarter, will discuss the larger implications of censoring literature both in the classroom and beyond. The panel discussion is being presented in conjunction with Vineyard Theatre's world premiere production of Adam Rapp's play THE METAL CHILDREN.
Investigation of UVA Scientist Sends a Chilling Message
Spurious investigation of UVA scientist sends a chilling message (2010) In May 2010, Union of concerned Scientists (UCS) reported that the University of Virginia was calling for an end to Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's investigation of internationally respected climate scientist Michael Mann. Cuccinelli has a reputation as a hero among conservative tea party activists, and provided no evidence of [...]
NCAC Defends Student Film at Boston University
NCAC recently fielded a plea for help from a Boston University student filmmaker, at the College of Communication, whose film Wake Up had been removed from regular class consideration and critique for reasons which depended very much on point of view. The student thought it was art. The faculty called it pornography.
The First Amendment in the Courts: CN 112
What a year, and it’s not over yet. Whether by happenstance or design, the Supreme Court is knee-deep in free speech cases. It’s too early to say where we’ll be when the dust settles.
To Read, or Not to Read, That is the Question
This April school administrators of Franklin Township in Indiana pulled Nobel Prize-winning author Toni Morrison's Song of Solomon out of the hands of AP English students, who were half-way through reading the book. The following comments, selected from a heated discussion on a local paper's website, shed light on what's at stake for students, parents, and community members whenever a book censorship incident occurs
The Long and the Short of It: CN 112
Censorship news roundup, Summer 2010.
Living in Interesting Times
Kids today have less time on their own to play, run around outside, ride their bikes aimlessly, or simply do nothing. Their lives are heavily programmed and supervised. This state of affairs makes it all the more important that children’s imagination, curiosity, and intellectual development is not similarly programmed and supervised to limit their world to one that offers no unexpected challenge.
Censorship News #112: Summer 2010
In this issue of Censorship News, an Indiana community ponders the value of Toni Morrison’s Song of Solomon, and we discuss the recent controversies over textbooks in Tennessee and Texas.
Tusslin’ Over Textbooks in Tennessee and Texas
In Tennessee and Texas, two states where the chainsaw-roar of censorship has been heard for generations, today’s textbook censors are wielding subtler weapons in their efforts to get rid of ideas which don’t conform to their political and religious beliefs.
To ban or not to ban: Selling violent video games to minors
Does the First Amendment bar a state from restricting the sale of violent video games to minors? That’s the question now before the Supreme Court in a case that will be argued fall of 2010.
Nudity & Censorship in Art
In February, 2010, the NYPD attempted to shut down an art gallery in the West Village in NYC. They were responding to news about a nude sculpture on exhibit in the windows of Chair and the Maiden Gallery. The gallery consulted with NCAC on how to respond to the situation. This video is the first of a new series that [...]
Nudity & Censorship in Art
In February, 2010, the NYPD attempted to close down a gallery in the West Village because they were showing a nude sculpture. This is the first video of a new series by NCAC exploring censorship in art.
NCAC seeks to maintain public access to information under FOIA
NCAC joins an effort seeking to maintain public access under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) to unclassified “terrorist identity information” (TII).
NCAC defends challenged GLBTQ books in NJ school library
NCAC, along with members of the Coalition, sent a letter to the Rancocas Valley School Board in Mt. Holly, NJ, regarding the recent challenge to books in its library. A small group of residents oppose the books because they appear on a list of gay and lesbian-themed books created by the Gay Lesbian Straight Education Network (GLSEN).
Bike for Progress: a Two Man Trans-America Bicycle Ride
Matthew Sottile and Dawson Burke of Connecticut will “Bike for Progress.” On April 5, 2010, the two high school friends will begin their trans-America journey, cycling from Baltimore, Maryland to Canon Beach, Oregon in support of free speech.
Federal Judge Holds Gene Patents to be Invalid
In 2009, a handful of cancer patients, professional organizations, several individual doctors and researchers along with the American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit challenging the decision to grant a patent to Myriad Genetics for the genes BRCA1 and 2, which are associated with hereditary breast cancer and ovarian cancer. In March 2010, the New York federal court ruled that [...]
Amy Greenfield’s CLUB MIDNIGHT/AGAINST CENSORSHIP on April 3, 2010
Svetlana Mintcheva, Director of Programs at NCAC, will be present at the NewFilmmakers Spring Fest screening on April 3, to discuss film, art, nudity, censorship and the internet.
Free speech surrendered: Corpus Christi at Tarleton State
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) issues the following statement opposing Tarleton State University’s recent cancellation of Terrence McNally’s play Corpus Christi:
Youth Voices Uncensored 2010
On Saturday, March 27, 1:00 PM, NCAC screens the winners of the 2009 Youth Free Expression Network (YFEN) film contest at its annual Youth Voices Uncensored event at the New York Film Academy at 100 East 17th Street in Manhattan.
NCAC joins letter asking Congress for hearings on the unlawful destruction of DOJ emails
Concerned because the deletion of government emails has hampered investigations into possible official wrong-doing, NCAC joins OpenTheGovernment.org in requesting Congress to act to insure the preservation of government records.
NCAC Joins Coalition of 43 Organizations to Call on Congress to Reform Patriot Act
With Congress poised to vote on reauthorizing the USA PATRIOT Act later this week, the New York Civil Liberties Union today joined a coalition of 43 organizations from across New York State in urging the state’s federal lawmakers to support critical reforms to the controversial law that would restore Americans’ privacy and constitutional rights.
Youth Voices Uncensored
Join us, Reel Works, Global Action Project and Kahlil Almustafa at the New York Film Academy on March 27th from 1-4pm for an afternoon of youth films, fun prizes, and great performances! Meet the winners of the 6th Annual YFEN film contest and make connections while exploring the power of youth-media. It's FREE and open to the public!
Help Strike Out Censorship with NCAC and the Yankees!
Every year NCAC salutes the contributions of Jonathan Lang and celebrates his birthday as he would have done - at the ballpark. Make a contribution in his memory and join us on May 2nd.
YouTube Restores Amy Greenfield’s Videos
NCAC and EFF sent a letter to YouTube protesting the removal of work by internationally recognized video artist Amy Greenfield. NCAC and EFF are urging the company to make sure YouTube’s community guidelines are applied judiciously.
NCAC, ACLU and AAUP File Brief In Ward Churchill Case
The American Civil Liberties Union, ACLU of Colorado, American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and NCAC submitted a brief on Februrary 18, 2010, to a Colorado Court of Appeals arguing that the University of Colorado, a publicly funded university, should reinstate a tenured professor who was wrongly terminated from his job there for exercising his right to free speech.
NCAC Protests Removal of Nude Painting from Art Exhibition, Temecula Apologizes
NCAC is protesting the censorship of an artwork to be displayed at a city-owned gallery in Temecula, CA. Jeff Hebron’s painting, which had been selected for inclusion in Visual Expressions 2010, was removed from the exhibition because it depicted a nude figure.
NCAC Urges Florida School to Keep Judy Blume’s Forever in its Library
NCAC, along with members of the Coalition, sent a letter to the Sugarloaf School in Summerland Key, FL, regarding the recent request to remove Judy Blume’s book, Forever, from its library. The parents of one student apparently object to the sexual content in the book.
Comment filters for online class disrupts education in Kentucky
A Jefferson County Public School student in Kentucky was banned from mentioning the name of his website in a Search Engine Optimization class offered through the online continuing education program. His URL: www.oldbastard.com. His contex: he sells bastard files.
Washington School Censors Fairy Tales
Robert Frost Elementary in Washington State canceled the touring theatre-troupe Studio East's production of the Emperor's New Clothes due to fears that students would imitate the bad behavior of some of the characters.
2009 YFEN Film Contest
The 2009 YFEN Film Contest "Free Speech in Schools (Does it Exist?)" This year marks the 40th anniversary of the famous Supreme Court case Tinker v. Des Moines when the court ruled in favor of students who had been suspended for protesting the Vietnam War. The Tinker case stated that students "do not shed their constitutional rights to freedom of [...]
Smoking Ban Upheld in Colorado Affects Theatrical Performance
This week, in a decision that is likely to limit what theatres decide to produce, Colorado’s Supreme Court upheld the state’s ban on theatrical smoking. Three not-for-profit theaters in Colorado sued the state’s department of Public Health and Environment on the grounds that the ban on theatrical smoking was an unconstitutional infringement on freedom of speech.