NCAC to Florida School District: Reject Calls to Remove Book Series From Libraries
TTYL and sequel TTFN by Lauren Myracle were described by Fla. parents as telling kids "to party, drink, cuss, and do other obscene things.”
NPR Moves to Eliminate Comments From Website
NPR has announced it will remove the comments section from its website. But what are the implications for freedom of speech?
Virginia Student Speaks Out Against School District’s Prior Restraint Policy
Kate Karstens, editor-in-chief of The Lasso, tells NCAC her school's vetting of her newspaper's articles violates district policy.
Oregon Shakespeare Festival Boycotts Local Bookstore Over Racially ‘Offensive’ Display
The bookstore owner was slammed for her "distinct lack of empathy for the experiences of people of color."
ABA’s Anti-Harassment Policy Continues a Disturbing Trend
The American Bar Association's vaguely worded harassment policy has wide-reaching implications on speech limitations of lawyers
Does Twitter Have A Selective Censorship Problem?
Buzzfeed today reported Twitter's ex-CEO oversaw moderation of President Obama's and Caitlyn Jenner's Q & As, prompting questions of selective political bias of the site.
First Amendment Groups Urge University of Wisconsin-Stout To Keep Historic Paintings On Display UPDATE: Chancellor Modifies Course, Paintings to be Relocated
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) are urging the University of Wisconsin-Stout to reverse a proposal to place historic paintings depicting First Nations peoples into storage because some claim that they reinforce negative stereotypes of Native Americans.
Uni. of Wisconsin-Stout Moves to Censor Paintings of First Nations People; UPDATE: Chancellor Modifies Course, Paintings to be Relocated
The University's Diversity Leadership Team expressed concern the painting's colonial subject matter would reinforce racial stereotypes.
First Amendment and Education Groups Unite to Oppose Effort to Rate and Censor Books
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) is leading a coalition of groups which on August 1st sent a letter to a Virginia school board addressing claims that award-winning contemporary novels contain “pornographic” material.
Satanic After School Club Planned To Counter Evangelical ‘Indoctrination’
Club activities will “include a healthy snack, literature lesson, creative learning activities, science lesson, puzzle solving, and art projects.” Students of all religious faiths are welcome to attend.
Comic Strip Pulled Over ISIS Reference
A nationally syndicated comic strip was censored because of a harmless reference to ISIS. But why do cartoons so frequently provoke overreactions?
The Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art Falls Short of its Mission by Cancelling Site Specific Installation about the Environment
The National Coalition Against Censorship has issued a statement In response to the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Arts (MOCA) halting of an environmental artwork.
Jersey City, Censorship and ‘Hypersensitivity’: An Interview With Monopoly Mural Artist Mr. AbiLLity
Gary Wynans, a.k.a. Mr. AbiLLity, sits down with NCAC to discuss the behind the scenes of his controversial Monopoly mural that was censored by Jersey City.
NJ Bill Proposed To Prevent Schools Meddling In Student Journalism; UPDATE: Illinois Drafts Similar Legislation Into Law
The legislation will prohibit the vetting of articles prior to publication—with the exception of those that are libelous, unwarrantedly invade privacy, violate the law, or incite students to disobey school policies.
A Dispatch From The Free Expression Network Student Summit
NCAC attended the Free Expression Network's student summit at the Newseum in D.C.
Colorado Student Punished For Questioning School’s Educational Priorities
Cidney Fisk, an outspoken atheist, says her view on religion and criticism of the school's religion-orientated priorities caused her grades to plummet.
Bill Proposed To Streamline Legal Action Taken On Intellectual Property
The drafted legislation would allow copyright owners to avoid costly federal lawsuits when protecting intellectual property.
Does Apple’s Strict App Store Content Policy Limit Freedom of Expression?
Apple has a mysterious, yet evidently strict, approach to controversial content its App store. Does this limit freedom of expression?
On Violence and Nudity, Facebook’s Opaque Community Standards
After the death of Philando Castile, Facebook delineated it's policy on posts containing violence. It should do the same for all content deemed controversial.
Does The First Amendment Protect Citizens Who Film Police?
Citizen journalism has never been more prevalent. But are the consequences of the prominence of this sort of viral video footage more good than bad?
American Nocturne: When Public Art Engenders Controversy
In response to the recent public removal surrounding the “American Nocturne” mural found downtown in the city of Elgin, Illinois, a product of public outcry, the National Coalition Against Censorship’s Art Advocacy Program yesterday sent a letter addressed to Elgin Mayor David Kaptain supporting the mural’s return. The letter has been sent in advance of the Elgin City Council meeting on July 13th when a vote will decide the mural’s ultimate fate.
Previous Advocate Of Censorship Appointed To North Carolina Board of Education
J. Todd Chasteen once described Isabel Allende's critically acclaimed work The House of the Spirits as a 'sex book.'
Jersey City Paints Over Mural Portion After Allegations of Racism; UPDATE: Mural Removed, Affirming Need For Clear And Consistent Public Art Policy
Artist Gary Wynans, a Puerto-Rican-Italian, painted himself in the mural. Residents complained the image reinforced racial stereotypes.
Freedom Of Information Act Receives Milestone Reforms
President Obama on Thursday codified legislation to bolster the FOIA ensuring government accountability.
Virginia MOCA Removes Gas Mask From Artist’s ‘Makeover’ Statue; UPDATE: NCAC Releases Statement On Behalf Of Artist
The museum alleges Polish artist Olek broke her contract when she implemented the mask, intended to provoke thought about environmental damage.
After Parents Censor, Student Drafts Petition In Defense of ‘Glass Castle’
Renae Roscart, 15, considers parents who argued for the reading list removal to be "pretending that sexual assault and alcoholism isn’t something that youths encounter."
It’s Not Censorship To Want More Female Game Protagonists
Minecraft creator Markus "Notch" Persson describes fan pressure on developers to implement more female video games as censorship, but is this fair?
Virginia School District Caves To Parent Pressure, Scraps Summer Reading List; UPDATE: Republican Senator Blasts Librarians For Selecting ‘Trash’, Petition Pushes Back
The Chesterfield County Public School summer reading list contained books that were "pornographic" and contained "vile, vile, nasty language," one mother complained.
Legislating Against Revenge Porn: The Constitutional Pitfalls
A Rhode Island Bill to tackle "revenge porn" was just nixed. But why was this a good thing?
Victory: Court Rules in Favor of Net Neutrality
A court has ruled against Internet providers looking to change the legal classification of internet service, which would have allowed bigger domain names to purchase faster connection speeds.
Video Games and Violence: Our Fear of the Immersive Perspective
A deep dive into the fear that immersive fictional content has historically provoked.
After Orlando, Are Social Media Sites Encroaching On Users’ Free Speech?
In the wake of the Orlando shooting, Reddit came under fire for censoring its user's content. How fair is this accusation?
School Librarians And Their Constitutional Responsibilities
What are the legal and educational responsibilities of school librarians in stocking their book shelves?
“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.
Vermont School Disinvites Childrens Author Because of Book About Heroin Addiction; UPDATE: School Reverses Decision, Will Carry Book in Library
Kate Messner speaking event at South Burlington's Chamberlin Elementary School after the school discovered her latest book was about heroin addiction.
US Copyright Office Leads Inquiry to Tighten Online Content Takedown Procedure; UPDATE: Comment from The Authors Guild
A proposed change to the "notice and takedown" internet copyright procedure potentially threatens freedom of expression online.
Author Who Talks About Transgender Themes Disinvited from Schools in Texas
The children's author Phil Bildner apparently has been disinvited from several schools in Round Rock Independent School District in Round Rock, Texas. He published this statement yesterday on the blog of ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom: Whenever I present to kids at my school visits, I always booktalk other authors’ books. It’s important for kids to know about the great stories that are out there. I always [...]
Portland Resolution on Teaching Climate Change Raises Concerns
NCAC has released the following statement on the climate change controversy brewing in Portland: On May 17, the Public School Board of Portland, Oregon unanimously adopted a resolution to “Develop an Implementation Plan for Climate Literacy,” which concluded with this recommendation: “The implementation plan should include a review of current textbooks for accuracy around the severity of the climate crisis and the [...]
Georgia Lawmakers Attack Museum Exhibition Exploring AIDS Epidemic
David Wojnarowicz (born 1954, died 1992) Untitled (Buffalo), 1988-89. Vintage gelatin silver print, signed on verso, 28⅝x35¾; inches. Collection of Michael Sodomick, Courtesy of the Estate of David Wojnarowicz and P.P.O.W Gallery, New York In statements reminiscent of the culture wars of the 1990s, three Republican lawmakers in Cobb County, Georgia have attacked a museum exhibition that [...]
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 [...]