After a national outcry over the removal of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird from the 8th grade curriculum in Biloxi, Mississippi, the book will return to classrooms on Monday — with caveats. Whereas the reading assignment previously was “opt-out”…
Author: Maren Williams
Victory in IL: Absolutely True Diary Retained in 10th Grade Curriculum
In a victory for the freedom to read, Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has been restored to the 10th grade curriculum at Alton High School in Alton, Illinois. The book was temporarily suspended pending a…
Gui Minhai Missing Since Alleged Release from Chinese Detention
Chinese authorities claim to have released Gui Minhai, the last of five men associated with Hong Kong publisher Mighty Current who were originally detained in late 2015. According to his daughter Angela Gui, however, his whereabouts remain unknown and he…
Trivedi Calls Out Indian Government on Continued Exploitation of Sedition Law
Indian political cartoonist Aseem Trivedi, who was arrested and charged with sedition in 2012 before the charges were ultimately dropped, has warned in a new interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that the state of free expression in his country…
Florida Community Pushes Back Against Superintendent’s Ban on ‘Inappropriate’ Books
In the wake of a draconian censorship directive from the superintendent of schools in Dixie County, Florida, numerous students, teachers, parents, and community members are speaking up in defense of the freedom to read. The order from Superintendent Mike Thomas…
Turkish Cartoonists Persist Despite Government Crackdown
As Turkish political cartoonist Musa Kart and his journalist colleagues from the newspaper Cumhuriyet continue to await a verdict on baseless charges of “aiding and abetting” terrorist organizations, other cartoonists in Turkey are also feeling the heat. At least one,…
CBLDF Joins Defense of To Kill a Mockingbird in Biloxi
In response to the abrupt removal of Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird from the 8th grade curriculum in Biloxi, Mississippi last week, CBLDF has joined with other members of the Kids’ Right to Read Project in urging the school…
CBLDF Joins Defense of Absolutely True Diary in Illinois School District
For at least the fifth time this year, Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian has been challenged as part of a public school curriculum. This time it’s at Alton High School in Alton, Illinois, and CBLDF…
Another Delay for Zunar in Challenge to Personal Travel Ban
Malaysian cartoonist Zunar will have to wait at least another month for his day in court to challenge the personal travel ban that has prevented him from leaving the country since last year. A judge deferred the hearing to November…
Bechdel, Satrapi, Chast Featured in Simpsons Cameos
A women in comics dream team assembled for last week’s episode of The Simpsons , a team that also happened to include two creators whose graphic novels are frequently challenged — and a full slate of women who were also profiled…