The Washington Post Tells the Tale of Two Occupy Cartoonists
Two weeks ago, cartoonist Susie Cagle was arrested during a night of violence that marred the Occupy Oakland protests. Despite wearing a press badge and participating peacefully, Cagle and several other nonviolent protesters were taken in for failure to leave the scene of a riot.
Michael Cavna with The Washington Post recently examined Cagle’s work in his blog, Comic Riffs, and compared it to the work of cartoonist Nate Beeler. Both cartoonists are situated in the middle of the action — Cagle in Oakland and Beeler at Occupy D.C. And both have divergent takes on the events taking place:
From his drawing board, Nate Beeler can survey it all. The block-lettered signs and dirt-caked tents, the makeshift meals and ever-present drums. The political cartoonist sits perched in the K Street NW newsroom of the Washington Examiner, on the block neatly overlooking the Occupy D.C. encampment. As the protestors go through their rhythms established from six weeks of autumn squatting, Beeler — amused — can’t help but smirk.
On the opposite coast, in the middle of Occupy Oakland, another talented young cartoonist, Susie Cagle, finds her city’s scene engrossing. So much so that she decides to draw closer, to commune with the plaza’s protestors and understand what makes them tick and picket.
You can read the rest of Cavna’s fascinating article about how these two cartoonist exercise their right to Free Speech here.
The diversity among the cartooning voices covering the Occupy movement is only possible because of the First Amendment. Please help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work by bidding on original artwork, making a donation, or becoming a member of the CBLDF!
Read the full post
MTV GEEK Supports CBLDF With Original Art Auction
During New York-Comic-Con, MTV Geek held a private party for staff and contributors. In attendance were some of the biggest names in comics, many of whom created live art to benefit CBLDF. Now you have the chance to own some of that art!
Creators who joined MTV Geek at the party included Jim Lee (Justice League), Todd McFarlane (Spawn), Frank Quitely (All-Star Superman), Pendleton Ward (Adventure Time), Brad Neely (China, IL), Richard Starkings (Elephantmen), Paul Pope (Batman: Year 100), Jon Schnepp (Metalocalypse), Steve Ellis (High Moon), and more. While enjoying music from DJ Aub Driver (Dark Horse Comics), several joined the massive live art session. The art created during the party is now being auctioned to benefit CBLDF. You can bid on the art here.
“Many thanks go to Bradley Hatfield, Chris Moeser, and Tom Akel with MTV Geek for organizing the event and lending their support to CBLDF,” said CBLDF Development Manager Alex Cox. “MTV Geek has been a terrific supporter of the Fund since they launched, and with this event they brought in some amazing talent. The art produced will help us raise much-needed funds to defend Brandon X in Canada.” (Learn more about the Brandon X case here.)
Don’t miss your chance to win gorgeous original art by some of the biggest names in comics! Follow MTV Geek (@MTVGeek) and the CBLDF (@cbldf) on Twitter for spotlight auctions over the next several days!
Click through for a gallery of pieces in the auction. You can also view them here.
Read the full post
The Good Fighters: Jason Gonzalez
One way to describe Jason Gonzalez, a.k.a J.Gonzo, is sharp. From the bold lines and colors of his designs and tattoos to the quick-witted ease with which he converses, Gonzalez is also an enthusiastic fan and creator of comic books, including his self-published opus to luchadores, La Mano Del Destino. His stories and artwork are steeped in tradition, from his Chicano background, to his embrace of the mythological hero’s quest, and finally to his love for the vintage imagery that once populated advertising.
Gonzalez is also a dedicated supporter of CBLDF, as you’ll see in this episode of The Good Fighters.
Read the full post
Canada’s Comics Legends Legal Defense Fund Formally Incorporates
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund’s partners in fundraising for the
Brandon X Canada Customs Case have formally incorporated and taken on new directors. Read the full Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund press release after the jump.
Read the full post
Susie Cagle Talks to Comics Alliance About Her Arrest
Last week, cartoonist Susie Cagle was arrested during the latest round of violence that has marred the Occupy Oakland protests. Laura Hudson with Comics Alliance interviewed Cagle about the arrest.
Cagle describes the moment the police came to arrest her, along with several other demonstrators:
I found this doorway, and there were tons of people crammed in there — maybe 20 or 30. Many of them had the bright green National Lawyers Guild legal observer hats, and I thought, that is a good place to be. So I ran in there and we all put our hands up thinking this should be all right. We’re away from the action, clearly peaceful, and I have my press badge around my neck. The police come up to the doorway and are basically about to beat us, and we have to scream, “No, no, please please.” About 20 seconds later, they said, “Everyone get on the ground, you’re under arrest.”
Read the rest of Cagle’s interview here.
Read the full post
REMINDER: Registration For Webinar on Comics & Manga Censorship Closes Today!
Throughout November, the American Library Association presents “Intellectual Freedom Across the Globe,” a series of online learning opportunities focused on intellectual freedom issues. CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein will be participating on November 9, during a webinar on comics and manga censorship around the globe, and you can join in! Registration for the November 9 session closes today, don’t miss out!
Keep reading for more details in the official press release…
Read the full post
MIX Raises Over $2,100 For CBLDF!
Last weekend, the Minneapolis art comics community welcomed some of the country’s finest cartoonists for MIX, the Minneapolis Indie Xpo. Show organizer Sarah Morean and her volunteer team provided a generous platform for the Fund, helping the organization raise over $2,100 at the event.
CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein represented the organization with the assistance of local cartoonists George Folz and Carl Thompson. On Sunday afternoon he delivered Censorship Then & Now, the CBLDF’s history of comics censorship, to a full house that included the Fund’s co-founder Greg Ketter.
Held at local arts space The Soap Factory, MIX provided a small festival environment where nationally recognized cartoonists shared the stage with local talent. The show was free to the public, and attracted a diverse crowd that ranged from loyal comics fans to curious readers who came to the show through buzz in the local press. The exhibit floor provided a solid survey of the current art comics climate, and included debuts from Zak Sally, Ursula Murray Husted, Noah van Sciver, and others. Tom Neely, Kevin Huizenga, Julia Wertz, Sarah Glidden, Jon Lewis, Dustin Harbin, and Robert Kirby, were also on hand signing recent work.
Morean and her team developed a full schedule of events that included a welcome party at Pink Hobo where a show of art from Yo Gabba Gabba was on display. Saturday night’s MIX Mixer benefited the organization to a tune of $705, thanks in part to 2D Cloud, whose graphic novel Yearbooks was given away to the first 50 attendees. Sunday night after the show closed, Minneapolis’ incredible comics institution Big Brain Comics invited out of town cartoonists to stop by the shop to sell their work, and show organizers hosted a wind-down party at Red Stag, a local food & craft beer bistro. The cumulative effect of the exhibit time and night life made MIX feel more like a creative retreat than a mere marketplace to sell comics.
The CBLDF thanks our volunteers George & Carl, Ursula Husted, as well as show organizer Sarah Morean; MCAD faculty Zak Sally, Frenchy Lunning, Diana Greene, Barbara Schulz, the MCBA, Anime Twin Cities, and all of the donors who ensured we were able to raise awareness and funds for our current casework.
Read the full post
Cartoonist Arrested During Occupy Oakland Protests
Despite wearing a press pass and being recognized by one of her arresting officers, cartoonist and journalist Susie Cagle was arrested last week, during the latest round of violence that has marred the Occupy Oakland protests. Cagle wrote about her experience on her blog:
I was detained for 15 hours and ultimately charged with the same misdemeanor as other demonstrators and NLG legal observers: PC 409, failure to leave the scene of a riot. Our arraignment dates are a month from now, and we were explicitly warned against returning to the plaza in the meantime. As I told ABC7, I feel like the OPD does, I think: confused.
Read the full post
Celebrate Neil Gaiman’s Birthday with a CBLDF Fundraiser!
Perennial Fund supporter Neil Gaiman celebrates his birthday on November 10, and the ladies with the Fangirls: Comics Club and A Comic Shop are ready to party! You can join them at The Geek Easy inside A Comic Shop (114 S. Semoran Blvd, Winter Park, FL) on November 10 from 7:00 – 11:00 p.m. for comics, music, games and more. Neil will be calling in so everyone can sing Happy Birthday to him! To celebrate, the organizers are also holding a raffle to raise funds for CBLDF.
For more details, visit the Facebook event page here.
Read the full post
Come See The CBLDF At MIX!
This weekend, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is headed to MIX, the Minneapolis Indie Xpo! We’ll have a booth open both days, where we’re thanking donors with a terrific array of signed books from authors including Charles Burns, Dan Clowes, Michael Kupperman, Jeff Lemire, Craig Thompson, Jim Woodring, and more! The Fund’s Charles Brownstein will also present Censorship Then & Now, the Fund’s history of censorship in comics on Sunday at 2:30. A party benefiting CBLDF happens on Friday night.
Dedicated to promoting small press and art comics, MIX is free to the public and showcases an incredible roster of art comics royalty including Zander Cannon, Kris Dresen, Mike Dawson, Sara Glidden, Sam Hiti, Dustin Harbin, Kevin Huisenga, Robert Kirby, Jon Lewis, Corinne Mucha, MariNaomi, Tom Neely, Anders Nilson, John Porcellino, Jim Rugg, Zak Sally, and Julia Wertz. CBLDF joins exhibitors including Ad House, Koyama, La Mano, MCAD, Sparkplug, Secret Acres, Top Shelf, and Uncivilized Books.
Charles Brownstein says, “I’m very excited to be going to MIX. Sarah Morean and her team have done a lot of hard work to make a showcase for great cartoonists, and to ensure that the CBLDF is able to raise money for our important work. The community in Minneapolis has always been extremely generous to the Fund, especially the folks at MIX, MCAD and MCBA, so it’ll be great to go out and thank them personally for all they do to help the Fund!”
Read the full post
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund are pleased to announce that the Crown has withdrawn all criminal charges in R. v. Matheson, the case previously described as the “Brandon X case,” which involved a comic book reader who faced criminal charges in Canada relating to comic books on his computer. The defendant, Ryan Matheson, a 27-year-old comic book reader, amateur artist, and computer programmer has been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing.
The total legal costs of this case exceeded $75,000. After taking the case last summer, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund contributed $20,000 to the defense, and the Comic Legends Legal Defense Fund contributed $11,000. The CBLDF also participated in shaping the defense, including recruiting expert testimony for the trial. The organization is currently seeking funds to help pay off the $45,000 debt Matheson incurred as a result of his case, and to create new tools to prevent future cases. To make a contribution to these important efforts, please visit www.cbldf.org. Learn more about the shocking details of this case and how you can support the CBLDF's efforts to fight back!Read the full post
-
Cross The Border-Go Directly to Jail
What if the comics you took on a plane landed you in jail? That’s the danger facing one American, who could spend a minimum of a year in a foreign prison for doing just that. Turns out that anyone leaving or entering the country can be stopped, searched or detained by customs agents because of comic art in print or on laptops, tablets or cell phones – even without suspicion of criminal activity. The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is leading a coalition to defend this case, and has resources to protect travelers traveling internationally. Learn more here, and please make a donation to support this case.
Newest Rewards
-
MOUSE GUARD Volume 1: Fall 1152, Signed by David Petersen
Saxon, Kenzie, and Lieam, members of the fearless Mouse Guard, are dispatched to find a missing merchant mouse. Their search through dangerous terrain for the missing mouse reveals much more than they expect, as they stumble across a traitor in the Guard’s own ranks. Collects the first acclaimed Mouse Guard series from 2007 Russ Manning Award Winner David Petersen, along with special bonus material. The softcover comes bookplated with a signature by series creator, David Petersen.
-
BPRD: Plague of Frogs Vol. 1 HC, signed by Guy Davis
In 2001, Hellboy quit the B.P.R.D., leaving Abe Sapien to lead Liz Sherman and a bizarre roster of special agents in defending the world from occult threats, including the growing menace of the frog army, first spotted in Hellboy: Seed of Destruction. Mike Mignola and Dark Horse present the complete Plague of Frogs saga, from Hollow Earth to King of Fear. This first book explores the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense after Hellboy’s departure, cracks open the secrets of Abe Sapien’s origin, and sets the war on frogs in motion. This hardcover is signed by series artist Guy Davis.
-
CHEW Volume 1, signed by John Layman
Tony Chu is a detective with a secret. A weird secret. Tony Chu is cibopathic, which means he gets psychic impressions from whatever he eats. It also means he’s a hell of a detective, as long as he doesn’t mind nibbling on the corpse of a murder victim to figure out whodunit and why. He’s been brought on by the Special Crimes Division of the FDA, the most powerful law enforcement agency on the planet, to investigate their strangest, sickest, and most bizarre cases. This softcover is signed by author John Layman.
-
MOVING PICTURES, Signed by Kathryn and Stuart Immonen
During World War II, the Nazis pillaged much of Europe’s great art collections. Museum curator Ila Gardner and SS officer Rolf Hauptmann are forced by circumstances to play out an awkward and dangerous relationship in a public power struggle. Moving Pictures unfolds along two timelines which collide with the revelation of a terrible secret, an enigmatic decision that many would not make, and the realization that sometimes the only choice left is the refusal to choose. This softcover edition is signed by creators Kathryn and Stuart Immonen.
-
Mister Wonderful, signed by Dan Clowes
The fan-favorite, Eisner Award-winning story, originally serialized in The New York Times Magazine, now collected with 40 pages of new material. Marshall has a blind date with someone named Natalie. After nearly an hour, when he’s long since given up hope, Natalie appears. She’s too good to be true: attractive, young, intelligent, and she seems to be seriously engaged with what Marshall has to say. There has to be a catch. And, of course, there is. A captivating, bittersweet, and hilarious look at the potential for human connection in an increasingly hopeless world, Mister Wonderful more than lives up to its name. This hardcover edition is signed by cartoonist Dan Clowes.
-
MOUSE GUARD Volume 1: Fall 1152, Signed by David Petersen
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1986 as a 501 (c) 3 non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation of First Amendment rights for members of the comics community.
The CBLDF complies with all federal, state and local laws regarding discrimination and/or harassment and any concerns should be directed to Chris Powell, President
Copyright © 2012 CBLDF | 
Entries RSS | Top ⇑