In September, the Supreme Court agreed to hear Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project, a case challenging provisions of the anti-terrorism laws that make it a crime to give “material support,” including “training” and “expert advice or assistance,” to any group designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government.
Censorship news roundup, Winter 2009/2010
Last summer, Yale University decided to strip all images of Mohammed from The Cartoons that Shook the World, by Jytte Klausen, a scholarly review of the events surrounding the 2005 Danish cartoon controversy published by Yale University Press. (See CN 101) To justify the decision, University officials cited concerns that the book might stimulate violence “somewhere in the world,” even though no actual threats had been received.
Every state in the nation makes it a crime to abuse animals. In 1999, Congress decided that wasn’t enough and created a new crime – taking or possessing a picture of animal cruelty.
In this issue of Censorship News, we discuss the importance of academic freedom and Yale's decision to remove images of Mohammed from Jytte Klausen's The Cartoons that Shook the World.
The NCAC and AAUP issued a Statement of Principle and Call to Action urging governments, institutions and private individuals to support freedom of expression and academic freedom, and to resist caving in to threats of violence, real and imagined.
An upcoming exhibition at The John Slade Ely House for Contemporary Art in New Haven is overshadowed by the organizers’ decision to censor one of the artworks in the show. After numerous requests that Richard Kamler modify parts of his installation, and a month before the opening of the show, the organizers rejected his work for fear some members of the community may be offended.
Author Rachel Kauder Nalebuff reads "Hotdog on a String" and writer Alice Eve Cohen reads from her own work,"They Exit Together."
Actors Rachel Dratch, Martha Plimpton, & writer Elna Baker read from
Actors Joe Paulik & Martha Plimpton along with attorney Martin Garbus and filmmaker Liz Garbus read from Blume's Then Again, Maybe I Won't.
Comic Paul Mooney performs stand up for Judy Blume.
Comedienne Judy Gold opens the Judy Blume & Friends evening and introduces the event chair, Dan Glickman, Motion Picture Association of America CEO, who reads a section from "Are You There, God?It's Me Margaret."
Co-creator of The Daily Show, writer, & comedienne Lizz Winstead talks about getting pregnant in high school.
Multi-talented writer Hannah Friedman sings a song she wrote in honor of Judy Blume.
Actors Rachel Dratch & Michael Izquierdo read a scene from Blume's Forever. Judy Blume thanks guest, performers, & NCAC.
On October 19, 2009, the National Coalition Against Censorship celebrated its 35th anniversary with A Night of Comedy with Judy Blume & Friends.
Jordan Allen "Freedom Thieves" Nathaniel Dueber "Expelled" Aaron Dunbar "Rumors" Taylor Dunlap and Caroline Dunaway "REVOLUTION: a mockumentary" Jovan Landry "J.o.V.™ - Student Perception" Lauren Leak "Common [Censored]" Noemie Long "Is There Really Free Speech in School" Jack McClintock "A Promised Freedom-Within Reach" Ashley Mills "Freedom" Amy Obarski "Petty Inquiries" Stephen Small and Tom Piasny "Silenced" Katelyn Whitehead "Have We [...]
This film simply shows the story of someone that no longer has the interest or the courage to express his feelings in words. Not one word crosses his lips. Why? This topic no doubt happens even more oftertimes when the media ISN'T around. In these cases, the youth must stand up for themselves. If you or a friend experiences this, [...]
I learned about my first amendment rights in school, and ironically this is where I learned about the subtle, and not so subtle ways in which they are breached. This video focuses on the way young and malleable brains internalize censorship. The visual metaphor is a series of dark looming figures which appear behind students when they are shamed for [...]
my film is a song i wrote to play at my graduation. i chose the topic because i felt that in my life i had monsters inside of me. i added a scripture verse to help people understand the song before i played Jeremiah 17:9-10, right before i played i said a prayer that also spoke to my feelings on [...]
Free Speech in School is a documentary based on several interviews that I conducted on The Northern Arizona University campus. I chose this topic because I believe that students who are attending college can bring new ideas ,thoughts ,and idealogies through the use of their right to free speech. I strongly believe that the use and practice of free speech [...]
we choose to do a music video because people remember songs easier than a documentary, that people get words to songs stuck in their heads and then they can really listen to the meaning of them. That we also wanted to show our creativity and how much we think that freedom of speech in public schools is censored so it [...]
My film takes a short, punchy look at some of the varied opinions on freedom of speech in school. When I realized that I didn't have a strong opinion of my own that I could properly express, I decided to interview my peers and present their views. I also encouraged them to share their thoughts on free speech at our [...]
This film was an experiment ...my first video...i had fun making this film.....i chose this film because it motivated me to be in film production.....
This is a short film that deals with freedom of speech in school. Two students try to bring reform to their classroom so the students can think freely. They must accomplish this while in an environment where the teacher is suppressive and oppressive of all of his students thoughts and ideas. I chose to create a story of this topic [...]
"Your Amendment is showing" is short film that demonstrates that students should have the ability to say how the feel without being persecuted for it. Although the First Amendment states that we as citizens have freedom of speech, it never said that we must abide by it with certain guidelines. Amy is a Student who feels that her teacher is [...]
I was inspired by the movie \"Metropolis\". With its same machine-like premise I couldn\'t think of a better image student oppression could be modeled to. Though I was under a strict movie run time ( 4 Minutes ), I feel that I addressed what I think students experience day by day in school. A withdrawal of free speech. The tape [...]
Freedom of speech, in schools.; It is a such a broad topic, which many of us don't even know where to begin. Many can argue that there isn't any freedom of speech in our schools or very limited. They may have had encountered some situations where they felt deprived of their student rights or maybe felt like they didn't have [...]
The film describes students trying to present an argument to school administration to change the mandatory uniform code. The attempt is unsuccessiveful, but the children are able to express their discontent amongst themselves with the hope of confronting the situation differently in the future.
"SPEAK UP!" is a film based around a plot of all these students in a class room with signs on their necks, all connecting to the idea that all these kids are afraid to speak up because they are afraid of getting in trouble for exercising there freedom of speech in school. Then a teacher of one class is trying [...]
The theme Free Speech In School (Does It Exist?) was something I felt very personally attached to, having experienced first hand that it does not. Our high school still restricts our freedom of speech rights like they\'ve never heard of Tinker v. Des Moines. I am planning on majoring in film, so I thought this contest would be a good [...]
My film includes different perspectives from students at Burnet High School discussing the question of freedom of speech in public schools. I chose this topic because sometimes I cannot express myself or my religion at school and I find it frustrating. It was interesting to see other views of this topic at school.
In my film, I chose to focus on the effects of censorship in schools. It shows how today the subject of free speech is approached as a series of questions concerning the present and the future. Technically, there is free speech, but is it free if there are consequences? If things do not change, the only thing that will spread [...]
My film is a documentary style video that reveals college students' responses to whether or not free speech exists in school. After hearing from the students, my personal theme of the film is illustrated as to be "express yourself." I added a few musical touches to the film because I think music strengthens any film and cultivates interest among the [...]
I asked several students who were eager to help to aide me in creating this video by asking them to say things they wish they were allowed to say at school.
In September, Walden Green School students came together to create something big. I think that this is he best example of the true meaning of "freedom of speech"- getting your voice heard. If my school didn't let our organization form rallies, petition for climate change, and make cool videos like this one, we might not have been the grassroots underdog [...]
Well there is a debate one whether there is freedom of speech. I decided to bring up questions from both sides of the argument. I decided to make it a single shot. The final shot of the floor was to use the cracks on the floor around the flag as a metaphor for problems around the United States.
My film is based on the past and present lack of "Freedom of Speech" found within the school systems. It covers Supreme Court cases that had a profound impact on the world of free speech in school, yet they did not do enough to satisfy what I believe constitutes "Free Speech". My inspiration for taking the angle can be traced [...]
Our film is a look into the lives of the youth that participate in competitve forensics, and how that activity serves as a method of communication. We both chose this as our representation of free speech in school because of the amount of freedom that the activity provides. We believe that speech and debate is a great tool to voice [...]
