Category: Legal

CBLDF Co-Signs Letter Defending The House of Spirits

This week, a review committee in North Carolina will decide the fate of Isabel Allende’s The House of Spirits after parents in the district appealed an earlier decision that upheld the book’s use in classrooms. CBLDF has signed a letter…

CBLDF Joins Amicus Brief Opposed to Arizona Law that Led to Ban of Mexican American Studies Books

The students and teachers of Tucson’s now defunct Mexican American Studies program are fighting back by bringing suit against Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, John Huppenthal. In an effort to protect educators and students’ rights to access comic books by…

CBLDF Joins Coalition Questioning Constitutionality of Massachusetts Bill

CBLDF has joined a coalition questioning the constitutionality of Senate Bill 168, a Massachusetts bill that targets video games. SB 168 calls for the study of various aspects of video games, including their benefits and potential educational application, whether they…

Victory in NM: Neil Gaiman’s Neverwhere Returned to Classrooms

Neil Gaiman’s bestselling novel Neverwhere has been returned to classrooms in Alamogordo, New Mexico, after the approval of a review committee and worldwide protest that included a letter signed by CBLDF! District spokesperson Doyle Styling talked to Karyn M. Peterson with…

CBLDF Defends The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian in Montana Victory

A Billings, Montana, parent’s crusade against Sherman Alexie’s The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ended after a packed school board meeting last night, during which the school board elected to retain the novel in area classrooms. CBLDF joined…

Cartoonist Zunar Loses Appeal Over Wrongful Arrest

A Malaysian political cartoonist who was arrested and charged with sedition just before the publication of his 2010 book has lost an appeal of his suit against the government for wrongful arrest. Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, better known by the pen…

The Secret History of Comics Censorship

Researcher Carol Tilley revealed to the world that much of Fredric Wertham’s data supporting the “dangers” of comics were largely fabricated. Her evidence? Wertham’s own notes and papers. Recently, Tilley joined CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein and Abrams Comicarts editorial…

Tucson School District Lifts Ban on Mexican American Studies Books

Nearly two years ago, the Tucson school district dissolved the acclaimed Mexican American Studies program. In doing so, they removed seven books by Latino and Native writers from the curriculum. Last night, the TUSD school board voted 3-2 to allow…

Understanding Your Rights FAQ – What Do Obscenity & Related Laws Mean?

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund frequently receives questions from our community about one’s rights relating to comics, so we have created this column – “Understanding Your Rights” as a series of FAQs to help clearly explain these concepts.  Today’s column…