“Stand Tall, Stand Loud” Censored by NYC Department of Parks; UPDATE: NYC Parks Reverses Decision
Aaron Bell's sculpture was censored by NYC's Parks & Recreation department for its "problematic" depiction of a man in a noose.
Previously Censored Senior Reads “Dark” Poem at Graduation
I woke up today. And when I woke up I thought of A friend. I thought of Kyle, I thought of Jack, I thought of Tamir And those who we have lost, Those who Cannot wake up. This stanza from an original poem by senior at Austin High School in Austin, Texas led to him being prohibited from reading it at his graduation. Pablo [...]
American Nocturne: When Public Art Engenders Controversy; UPDATE: Mural Removed, Elgin Arts Commission Will Decide Fate
NCAC has sent a letter to Elgin Mayor David Kaptain supporting the mural's return in advance of the City Council's vote on its fate on July 13th.
Florida School District Moves to Ban The Perks of Being a Wallflower
After two parents complained about sex, drugs, and drinking in Stephen Chbosky’s The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which had been assigned in a 7th grade advanced language arts students at Pasco Middle School in Dade City, Florida, the superintendent called for the removal of the book and initiated a formal review that has recommended a district-wide ban. According the Tampa Bay Times, Superintendent Kurt [...]
School Library in Minnesota Removes Graphic Novel for “Vulgarity”; UPDATE: Board Allows Restricted Access
In Henning, Minnesota, a small town 90 miles southeast of Fargo-Moorhead, the award-winning graphic novel This One Summer was removed from the school library in early May after a parent complained. A “coming-of-age tale about the awkward transition from carefree childhood to jaded, self-conscious young adulthood,” in the words of a Booklist starred review, This One Summer contains a dozens instances each of a few four-letter words, [...]
Penny Dreadful in Paint: Accusations of Blasphemy Hit Virginia MOCA/Hi-Fructose Exhibition
Mark Ryden: Fountain, 2003. Oil on Panel, 12x6.25 inches. ©Mark Ryden. In a replay of former New York Mayor Guiliani's attempt to grab attention by attacking "blasphemous" art, Ben Loyola, a member of the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, is directing his ire against the work of LA-based painter Mark Ryden, featured in Turn the Page: The First Ten Years of [...]
Staten Island High School Art Students Told to Clothe their Anti-Rape Artwork
When students at Susan E. Wagner High School in Staten Island produced a photographic artwork critiquing rape culture and the sexualization of young women's bodies, the administration responded by removing the artwork, implicitly sexualizing the body of a young woman. Last week, a photo-collage was removed from a student exhibition in the lobby of the high school due to its [...]
Michigan Parents See ‘Porn’ in The Bluest Eye
Parents in Michigan are very upset about a Toni Morrison novel being taught in an AP English class.
NCAC to Dept. of Ed: Proposals to Regulate Private Online Speech Would Run Afoul of the First Amendment
Calls to ban social media platforms to combat campus discrimination threaten students' free speech rights.
Pa. Parents Complain, ‘Glass Castle’ Removed from School Reading List
A school in Pennsylvania removed an award-winning novel in response to parent's complaints.
Coalition to Virginia Governor: Veto the ‘Beloved’ Bill
A bill that would require Virginia public schools to notify parents about 'sexually explicit content' should be vetoed by the governor, a coalition of literary and free speech groups argue.
Virginia “Sexually Explicit Content” Bill Undermines Public Education
A Virginia bill that would require public schools to notify parents of "sexually explicit content" poses a profound threat to public education and First Amendment principles.
Artists, Anti-Censorship Group Protest Cancellation of Israel-Palestine Play
After complaints, a Florida Jewish community center cancels performances of a play about the Israel-Palestine conflict.
School’s Banning of Racism Video Raises First Amendment Concerns
A Virginia school district's decision to ban a short video about affirmative action, along with the suggestion that it may ban other "racially divisive" material, raises serious First Amendment concerns.
Florida High School Libraries Restrict Access to Award-Winning Graphic Novel
A parent of an elementary school student complained about a graphic novel in the school library. Is that any reason to restrict the book in the same district's high school libraries?
Enfield ‘Idiot’ Controversy: How to Protect Artistic Freedom
After a censorship controversy over 'American Idiot' grabbed headlines, NCAC and other free speech groups offer advice on how the school can turn this into a learning experience, and protect students' artistic freedom going forward.
In Omaha Sex Ed Fight, Board Must Choose Sound Science
A series of proposed changes to the sex ed curriculum in Omaha, Nebraska generated intense opposition late last year, with hundreds of angry parents packing a meeting to denounce plans to teach students about gender identity, emergency contraception, and abortion. Now it is up to the board to decide how and what students will learn.
Treating Anti-Israel Tweets as School Bullying?
If a New Jersey high school is really treating a student's tweets as harassment, they need to cease investigating her words and apologize to her instead.
Is This Student Painting Inappropriate for Children?
NCAC urges a Florida high school to reconsider its decision that a student painting was too explicit to display.
Teaching Huck Finn: A Letter to Friends’ Central School
The reasons a private school in Pennsylvania offered for not teaching 'Huck Finn' are precisely the reasons it should be taught.
California School Faces Down Complaint Over ‘The Family Book’
A parent in Etiwanda, California is complaining that a celebrated children's book about tolerance and diversity is not "appropriate" for a kindergarten classroom.
Threat to Sue Over Transgender Book Reading is Based on Flawed Constitutional Analysis
A conservative legal group's threat to sue a school over the planned reading of a book about a transgender child is based on a fundamental misunderstanding of how the First Amendment applies to public schools.
Reading Jhumpa Lahiri in Idaho
An ad hoc committee in Idaho doesn't think high school seniors are ready to read The Namesake. The school board has an opportunity to reject this recommendation and protect the freedom to read.
BART Blocks Art: Was Anti-Gentrification Message To Blame?
The decision by San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit (BART) to deny a permit to display Bay Area artist Victor De La Rosa's posters about community concerns over gentrification raises serious First Amendment concerns.
‘Just One Day’ YA Novel: Too Racy For School Libraries?
Parents of a middle school student were upset to find their child read the novel 'One Fine Day.' So they want it removed from four school libraries in the district.
Are ‘Ghost Stories’ Too Spooky For NC School Library?
One parent's complaint about a graphic novel has apparently led a school in North Carolina to remove it from the school library.
Removing Peltier Art From Government Building Raises First Amendment Concerns
The removal of artworks by incarcerated Native American activist Leonard Peltier from a Washington state government building raises serious First Amendment concerns.
‘Extremely Loud’: Too Much For Honors English?
For the second time in two months, a school has decided to remove Jonathan Safran Foer's highly regarded novel 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' from a class reading list.
Throwing Out ‘Extremely Loud’ in Illinois
A school drops a highly-acclaimed novel because of a few parents' complaints. That's bad. But their plan to label all books that have "adult content" will only invite more problems.
Petition Demands Only “Age Appropriate” Books in NJ High School
A petition calls for the removal of two books for sexual content and language, and also all other material that is not age-appropriate.
At Wesleyan, Protesting a Paper—And Threatening to Destroy It?
Protests and criticism are one thing-- calls to defund a Wesleyan student newspaper over an op-ed go too far. Student government officers, and the newspaper itself, must do more to support free expression.
Charter School’s Book Censorship is a ‘Kind of Literary Fraud’
Responding to a complaint about a book assignment, a Tennessee charter school CEO explained that they had given students a heavily redacted version.
Local Govt Official Removes “Obscene” Artwork — But It’s Back Up
A California government official removed an artwork from a public building because he determined that it was "obscene." The First Amendment exists to prevent this kind of thing, and the piece is back up.
“Preacher Pimp” Protested in Georgia–But Museum Holds Firm
An artwork draws protest from local clergy in Georgia. But the museum where it is displayed is standing firm.
‘Curious’ Censorship in Tallahassee High School
A Florida high school selected an award-winning novel for its school-wide summer reading list. But a few parents objected to some of the language in the book, and it was promptly pulled.
National Groups Oppose South Carolina ‘Some Girls’ Censorship
One parent called an award-winning young adult novel "smut"-- and her complaint was enough to have it removed from a summer reading list for honors students.
Free Speech Groups Condemn Firing of LSU Professor
NCAC and FIRE weigh in on the controversy over the firing of LSU professor Teresa Buchanan, who reportedly told a number of jokes that some students found uncomfortable.
Florida Parents Want to Ban Books They Say ‘Promote’ Islam
Parents in Florida are upset that third graders will be reading books they say promote Islam.
Boston Museum Responds on Kimono Protests
The Boston Museum of Fine Arts responds to NCAC's letter regarding protests over "Kimono Wednesdays."
Kimono Wednesdays: Was Interactive Art Really ‘Yellowface’ Orientalism?
An exhibit that included a kimono that could be worn by museum visitors drew strong protests, and caused the Boston Museum of Fine Arts to alter its program.