Pamela Geller and Free Speech
The right-wing provocateur has the right to say what she wants. Does she think Arabs and Muslims have the same rights?
Police Groups React to ‘Don’t Shoot’ Library Art
Provocative art about police brutality in a Madison, Wisconsin library is causing controversy.
Why the Transformation of May Day into Loyalty Day is Troubling
Workers around the world are celebrated on May Day. But here in the United States it's actually "Loyalty Day"-- a reminder of some of the darkest days of cultural and political censorship.
Challenge to Absolutely True Diary Shut Down in Brunswick, NC
A grandparent tries--yet again--to remove Sherman Alexie's award-winning novel from a school in North Carolina.
Long Live the Uncensored William Shakespeare
Views on censoring the bard 451 years later from a Shakespeare-lover and free speech fighter. Happiest of birthdays to my favorite Elizabethan fellow and bawdiest of bards, William Shakespeare. It’s no secret that this famed playwright has taken heat over the years for his spicy language. His plays boast of themes of sexuality, anti-Semitism, violence, and homosexuality; but do these [...]
Treating Rhymes as Crimes: The War on Hip-Hop
Prosecutors are using rap lyrics as a tool to charge rappers with crimes--even when there is no other evidence.
The Muzzles! The Year’s Best (or Worst) Censors
The Jefferson Center has released its round-up of free speech offenders.
Aurora Students: Censored, Then Uncensored?
Theater students get word that their show is canceled due to inappropriate content. But once the news hits the local TV, the administration changes its tune.
There Are Things Facebook Doesn’t Want You To See
Two more examples of the social media giant's rather peculiar standards about female nudity.
Students Won’t Let Censorship Bring the Curtain Down
A group of Florida students were set to perform at the Florida State Thespian Festival in Tampa. They did-- but outside the venue.
Whose Books Are Banned?
The ALA's list of the top 10 challenged and banned books includes plenty of familiar names, and teaches some larger lessons about diversity in literature.
UN Special Rapporteur: Freedom of expression & Copyright
At the 28th Session of the Human Rights Council in March 2015, Ms. Farida Shaheed, the UN Special Rapporteur in the field of cultural rights, presented her report on copyright laws and policies and their effect on artistic freedom. The report emphasizes the need to balance intellectual property rights with the need to empower creativity. It supports copyright exceptions and limitations that enable caricature, parody, pastiche and appropriation art, which all borrow recognizably from prior works in order [...]
The Good, the Bad, and the Banned
Just in time for National Poetry Month, we take a look at five banned poems through the ages.
“Removed From the Internet”: Dianne Feinstein’s Bizarre Call for Censorship
No, senator, you cannot remove a book from the internet.
China’s Struggle with Online Censorship – New Lengths to Control the Internet
One of the most prevalent types of censorship today is solely web-based. The Chinese government's online blockade called the "Great Firewall" is one of the most famous examples. Usually acting out of what it considers defensive purposes, the "Great Firewall" operators have recently taken on a more offensive role that affects both China and the rest of the world: Cyber attacks [...]
A Victory for Parody! 3C and Three’s Company
Some good news for artistic free expression: A US District Court judge ruled that David Adjmi's play 3C, a parody of the hit TV sitcom Three's Company, does not infringe on that program's copyright.
Banning the Bomb, Then and Now
In 1950 the US government burned copies of a magazine because they said it revealed the country's nuclear secrets. A similar dispute is playing out right now — this time without the same kinds of censorship and legal threats.
Student Journalism Censored — But Not For Long
A high school newspaper investigation into drugs was deemed unsuitable for publication by the school's principal. But a local news outlet heard about the story and decided that good journalism deserves to be read.
Palestine Solidarity… Censored?
A panel discussion about political activism is canceled at the last minute at the Missouri History Museum. Was it a matter of curatorial discretion, or was the inclusion of Palestinian activism the real problem?
Teepee Art Project Removal a Missed Opportunity for Conversation
A California college removed a teepee art project after complaints-- missing an opportunity to have a real discussion about some vital issues.
NCAC Goes to France: Artists Adapt Best Practices for Managing Controversy
Artists in France are adapting NCAC's work.
Showing American Sniper in Missouri
A dispute over showing a controversial film on campus shows how student groups can manage such controversies without resorting to censorship.
Oklahoma’s Free Speech Fail and the Bigger Picture
The University of Oklahoma's decision to expel two students over a racist fraternity video violates the First Amendment. But what are the deeper lessons about this incident?
Florida’s Climate Change Fix? Nix It
Florida state government officials appear to have a rule about how to deal with climate change: Don't talk about it.
“Censorship in the Guise of Child Protection:” Jonas Tarm and the NY Youth Symphony
A New York Times reviewer offers a scathing response to the New York Youth Symphony's decision to censor a young composer's Carnegie Hall debut.
Music Freedom Day in New York
A quick look at how Music Freedom Day was celebrated in New York City.
Silenced By The Symphony? Young Composer’s Piece Yanked from Carnegie Hall Debut
A young composer's Carnegie Hall debut was scrapped over concerns that his composition, which quotes Nazi and Soviet themes, was offensive.
After Questionable Copyright Claim, Public Library Removes Mother Teresa Painting
Is this really about copyright? Trumbull removes a painting of Mother Teresa from the public library amidst questionable claims of copyright infringement.
Turn That Down! 40 Banned and Censored Songs
Sex, violence, drugs, politics and religion have all been grounds for music censorship. In honor of Music Freedom Day, NCAC has compiled a list of 40 banned and censored songs that we doubt your parents would approve of!
Seuss Won’t Shush: Celebrating the 111th Birthday of the Insuppressible Dr. Seuss
The censorship of... Dr. Seuss? Indeed, the beloved author's children's books have been banned, censored and challenged numerous times over the years.
Attacks on Artistic Freedom On the Rise
A new report shows that attacks on artists were on the rise in 2014-- even here in the United States.
A Brief History of the Censored Oscars
NCAC counts down some of the most egregious cases of censorship in the history of the Oscars — a reminder that the show can often serve as an open, free platform for people to speak out and raise awareness about important issues.
How Chicago Public Schools Dumped Persepolis
Newly released documents show that the 2013 decision by Chicago Public Schools to remove Marjane Satrapi's popular graphic novel from the district's schools was just as dubious and censorious as it first appeared.
Top 5 Forbidden Affairs of the Heart
In honor of Valentine's Day, NCAC has compiled a list of 5 scandalous couples that rattled more than just the bedpost. In fact, their romances sparked debate about the role of free expression, censorship, and First Amendment rights—some even thousands of years later. NCAC hopes that your Valentine's Day is as passionate and romantic—though maybe not as dramatic—as these forbidden affairs of [...]
Censors Never Sleep: On Judy Blume’s Compassionate Legacy
To advocate on behalf of those who cannot speak, sometimes it's necessary to understand what it feels like to be silenced. Judy Blume is a living testament to this very truth, and, for that, we salute her today, on her birthday.
Taking the Power Back: Musicians Stand Up For “Illegal” Rap in Arizona
Is teaching hip-hop lyrics against the law in Arizona schools? Thanks to a controversial law about ethnic studies programs, the answer would seem to be yes.
The Censored Truth of a Guantanamo Prisoner
Published in January of this year, The Guantanamo Diary is an intense account of Mohamedou Ould Slahi's excruciating experiences as a prisoner of the U.S. war on terror. Slahi was detained in his native Mauritania in 2001 before a CIA rendition plane flew him to Jordan for brutal interrogation sessions. From there, Slahi was flown to Afghanistan and then finally [...]
Censored Art: Profanity and Police Brutality
The Charlie Hebdo massacres prompted worldwide calls to embrace and celebrate artistic freedom. But actions speak louder than words. As demonstrations in support of free speech were held in Paris and we all reconfirmed our commitment to an open exchange of ideas, two cultural spaces in the United States-– one a library, the other a university-– censored artwork.
Defying Intolerance, Children’s Book About Dress-Wearing Boy Kept in Classroom
Last December, a guidance counselor in rural Pennsylvania read a children’s book about a dress-wearing boy to a kindergarten class without advance notice to the parents, upsetting some residents in the district.
Top 10 Banned Books that Changed the Face of Black History
Black History Month is as good a time as any to remember that some of the most frequently banned, censored or challenged books were written by African-American authors.