On January 9, 2004 work from my series titled “Blue Things I Wear” was accepted into “The Open Show” at the University of San Diego as a part of the 15th annual Social Issues conference. On February 25, 2004, three days before I was to deliver the work for installation, I was informed that the Board overseeing this exhibit censored [...]
In September of 2000, Phil Coyle, then the Director of the DOD’s Office of Operational Test and Evaluation, testified in front of Congress about the national missile defense plan. In his testimony he was critical of the plan and included 50 recommendations on how the system should be tested and improved. Though the Congressional committee voted unanimously to enter Coyle’s [...]
AZ State University "Balances" Exhibition by Eliminating Art Critical of the Current Administration Phoenix, AZ Posted 8/23/2004 Democracy means open discussion, democracy means freedom to criticize the government, democracy means civic engagement…but for officials at Arizona State University, democracy means counter-balancing any criticism of the policies of the present administration with criticism of Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry. As [...]
Dear J. Robert Wills, Dean of the College of Fine Arts at Arizona State University, It has recently come to my attention that you and a few others (I’m sure the list will multiply endlessly) are responsible for censoring the work of several artists who, until recently, were slated to participate in an otherwise applause-worthy show titled "Democracy in [...]
by Katherine Stapp NEW YORK, (IPS)—Anti-war messages are going up in Manhattan's Times Square in time for the Republican Party convention in August after the company that owns the billboards, media giant Clear Channel, backed down from its refusal to carry them. In a compromise, the group sponsoring the messages, Project Billboard, agreed to replace its original artwork, a stylised [...]
One Year Ago: Notes From A Student Activist By Bretton Barber, Dearborn, MI It is my sincere hope that there will be a time in everyone's life that defines them. It may come during a time of peril, joy, or even ordinariness, when it is least suspected. For myself, that moment came one year ago this week in a time [...]
Professor Steve Kurtz was charged today by a federal grand jury in Buffalo, New York—not with bioterrorism, as listed on the Joint Terrorism Task Force's original search warrant and subpoenas, but with "petty larceny," in the words of Kurtz attorney Paul Cambria. (Click here for background.)
Steve Kurtz, an artist with the Critical Arts Ensemble, was working on Free Range Grain, the collective's latest art project that studied the politics of biotechnology, when laboratory materials that was part of the project was accidentally discovered in Kurtz's home. The materials were confiscated by the FBI and led to Mr. Kurtz being charged with bioterror The government [...]
In Fall 2003, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the Treasury Department issued an opinion that trade embargoes against countries such as Iran, Cuba, Iraq, Libya and Sudan prohibit publishers from editing scientific and literary manuscripts by residents of those countries and restrict other academic and intellectual collaborations. Free Speech proponents are pushing for the elimination of these restrictions. [...]
American Association of University Professors - American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression - American Library Association - Association of American University Presses - Feminists for Free Expression - National Coalition Against Censorship - Peacefire - PEN American Center March 4, 2004 Judd Gregg, Chairman Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions 428 Dirksen Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20510-6300 [...]
The Honorable Fred Upton, Chairman The Honorable Edward J. Markey, Ranking Member House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet 2125 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr. Chairman, Congressman Markey: On behalf of our organizations' members and supporters, we write to express our concerns about H.R. 3717, the Broadcast Decency Enforcement [...]
by Leslie Postal Staff Writer Orlando Sentinel A Seminole County family wants to restrict classroom use of an award-winning novel about black life because of its harsh depictions of racism and its use of racial slurs. Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry is widely used in Florida's public schools and is required reading in some districts, including Orange and Seminole. [...]
Dear School Board Member, We have recently been informed that Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry, by Mildred Taylor, has been challenged as part of the Language Arts Curriculum at Lawton Chiles Middle School. We understand that a parent, who has not read the book, objected because it includes the word "nigger." Although her child was immediately given an alternative [...]
On January 20th in New York City, NCAC will host a conversation at Coliseum Books for NCAC Friends and others featuring authors of important books and articles about the state of the First Amendment in these perilous times.
Letter from NCAC & the First Amendment Project about Censored Political Art in Fairfield CA November 18, 2003 John DeLorenzo Director of Community Services Fairfield City Hall 1000 Webster Street Fairfield, CA 94533 fax 707-428-7627 Dear Mr. DeLorenzo, The National Coalition Against Censorship and the First Amendment Project are national organizations concerned with preserving and promoting the fundamental [...]
by Donna Demac In the United States, freedom of speech has meant something like this: the government is forbidden under the First Amendment from censoring or punishing speakers, including the press, for what they say. A balance must be sought between uninhibited public debate about public issues and the state's interests in national security. Historically, the courts have treated art [...]
Contact the people listed below and let them know how you feel about the recent censorship controversy involving the English Language Arts Regents Examinations in New York. Suggestions include: • Telling them that you are concerned with the practice • Demanding assurances that this will not happen again • Telling the legislators that you want an investigation into how [...]
Prepared for Joint Hearings New York State Assembly and Senate Education Committees Albany, New York, October 22, 2003 My name is Joan Bertin. I am the Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Censorship ("NCAC"). NCAC is an alliance of 50 national non-profit organizations, including religious, educational, professional, labor and civil rights groups, united in their support for freedom [...]
Free Speech Groups Protest Nevada County Art Censorship and Call for Guidelines Respecting Artistic Freedom and Cultural Diversity For Immediate Release October 9, 2003 Arts Advocacy Project at National Coalition Against Censorship, the Oakland, CA First Amendment Project, the ACLU of Northern California and other free speech organizations are protesting the cancellation of the Annual Open Studios Art [...]
October 1, 2003 Nevada County officials ordered the removal of all work from the Annual Open Studios Art Show at the County's Rood Administrative Center. The show, organized by the Nevada County Arts Council, had just opened on September 30th and was scheduled to continue through the end of October. Ironically, the order was issued on the very first day [...]
We write regarding the recent decision to remove the book Sari Says: The Real Dirt on Everything from Sex to School, by Sari Locker. We believe this is a classic case of censorship and urge you to reconsider. It seems clear that the removal of the book was based on objections to its content, which is impermissible under the First Amendment. As the Supreme Court said in Board of Education v. Pico, the constitution does not permit "officially prescribed orthodoxy" which limits what people may read, think, speak, or say.
The James Kennedy Library of Dyersville, Iowa has removed the book Sari Says: The Real Dirt on Everything from Sex to School, by Sari Locker.
Holt, Rinehart and Winston, publishers of a biology textbook under consideration by the Texas Department of Education, has revised the text under pressure from those who claim that Darwinism "is a theory in crisis." The publisher has added a suggestion to "study hypotheses for the origin of life that are alternatives" to evolution. A HRW spokesperson calls the changes "minor," [...]
Joel Klein Chancellor, New York City Department of Education 52 Chambers Street New York, NY 10007 Dear Chancellor Klein: As you may recall, we wrote you last January about a censorship incident at Brooklyn Tech High School involving the Russell Banks novel, Continental Drift. More recently, we sent you a copy of our letter to Dr. Lee McCaskill, Principal [...]
Resources Permission to Speak: Who Owns Identity & History? Identity & Political Correctness Alterman, Eric. What Liberal Media? The Truth About Bias and the News. 2003. Berman, Paul (ed.). Debating P.C.: The Controversy over Political Correctness on College Campuses, 1995. Bruce, Tammy, Laura C. Schlessinger (Foreword). The New Thought Police: Inside the Left's Assault on Free Speech and Free Minds. [...]
Dear Dr. McCaskill:
As you undoubtedly are aware, my organization and a number of other First Amendment groups have been concerned about the fact that a teacher at your school, Todd Friedman, was disciplined last year after a parent complained about sexual content in Russell Banks' novel Continental Drift.
For immediate release This week, the National Coalition Against Censorship sent a letter to the University of Central Oklahoma urging the University to adopt a statement affirming the value of free expression, as well as develop guidelines for the exhibition of student art, which would guarantee the viewpoint-neutral selection of artwork and establish a procedure for responding to challenges. The [...]
Dr. Chris Markwood Dean of Arts, Media, and Design University of Central Oklahoma Edmond, Oklahoma Dear Dean Markwood, We were disturbed to hear about the removal of one of your students' artwork from an exhibition. Our understanding is that Sarah Wall?aka "PIE"?displayed a number of her works as part of a curated student monochromatic show. The show was located [...]
UPDATED: Gov. Kathleen Sebelius vetoed the amendment that could have stripped $3.1 million from the University of Kansas' School of Social Work if materials used in one of its classes were determined to be obscene. The governor said she was vetoing the proviso because it was "an inappropriate use of legislative powers designed to impinge upon academic freedom in the [...]
Governor Kathleen Sebelius Office of the Governor Topeka KS Honorable Governor Sebelius, We protest the amendment to the 2003/04 Kansas State budget that would eliminate funding for the School of Social Welfare at the University of Kansas, as well as for any academic unit that purchases "obscene" videos for educational purposes. The amendment is an attack on academic freedom and, [...]
Follow-up Letter to the State Education Department March 12, 2003 James A. Kadamus, Deputy Commissioner Office for Elementary, Middle, Secondary & Continuing Education State Education Dept. Room 875 EBA University of the State of New York Albany, NY 12234 Dear Mr. Kadamus: We are in receipt of your letter in defense of the construction of the June 2002 [...]
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA et al., Appellants v. PLAYBOY ENTERTAINMENT GROUP, INC. BRIEF AMICI CURIAE OF SEXUALITY SCHOLARS, RESEARCHERS, EDUCATORS, AND THERAPISTS IN SUPPORT OF APPELLEE No. 98-1682 In the Supreme Court of the United States October Term, 1998 On Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Delaware Marjorie Heins Counsel of Record 170 West [...]
Resources Abstinence-Only Education Federal support for abstinence-only education is being debated in Congress, with crucial votes on appropriations for the program expected in the Fall. NCAC and other organizations endorsing the Joint Statement Against Abstinence Education are renewing their efforts to educate lawmakers and the public about the First Amendment issues raised by this form of censorship of sex education [...]
Dear Chancellor Klein:
We understand that Russell Banks' novel Continental Drift has become the center of a dispute at Brooklyn Technical High School, and that a veteran teacher at the school, Todd Friedman, has been disciplined for assigning the novel to an eleventh grade student as supplemental reading. The principal, Dr. Lee McCaskill, acted in response to a parent's complaint about sexually explicit language in a few isolated passages.
Today the National Coalition Against Censorship and other free expression and civil rights organizations issued a statement commending University of California, Berkeley Chancellor Berdahl for affirming the University's commitment to academic freedom by overriding a previous decision to censor a fund-raising appeal for the Emma Goldman Papers Project.
Mark Cohan, Superintendent of Schools and Members of the Cromwell Board of Education 9 Mann Memorial Drive Cromwell, Connecticut 06416 Dear Superintendent Cohan and Members of the Cromwell Board of Education: We understand that some residents seek to remove Katherine Paterson's Bridge to Terabithia and Elizabeth George Speare's The Witch of Blackbird Pond, from the Cromwell middle school, and to [...]
Chancellor Bennett asked me to respond to your letter of June 11th in which you requested an opportunity to meet with the Board of Regents. The Chancellor asked me to inform you that he and the Board of Regents are satisfied that Commissioner Mills is dealing appropriately with the matter of editing text for questions in State exams. The Board of Regents traditionally does not grant requests from organizations or individuals who wish to address the Board. The Board will not be able to accommodate your request to address them, and they will not be holding public hearings on this topic.
Altered or deleted text is in bold. Ernesto Galarza's1 memoir, Barrio Boy. Original: "My pals in the second grade were Kazushi, whose parents spoke only Japanese; a skinny Italian boy; and Manuel, a fat Portugese who would never get into a fight but wrestled you to the ground and just sat on you." Regents: "My pals in the second [...]
Svetlana Mintcheva: Welcome to the panel on self-censorship, the second in a series of two panels organized to celebrate the re-launching of the File Room (www.thefileroom.org), an Internet archive of art censorship cases, created by Antoni Muntadas in 1994.
We are gratified that Commissioner Mills has indicated an intent to abandon the use of expurgated literary passages on the English Regents exam, but this response is not wholly satisfactory. Given the pervasiveness of the practice and the conflicting statements from the Education Department, it is incumbent on state education officials to provide greater assurance through credible evidence that the State Education Department will no longer censor educational materials.