2017: Free Speech Offenders and Defenders!

The National Coalition Against Censorship, CBLDF’s frequent partner in the fight for free expression, has named their free speech offenders and defenders for 2017. Let’s take a look at some of the free speech heroes and villains that CBLDF helped support (or fight!) this year…

DEFENDER: Congressman William Lacy Clay (D-MO)

Congressman William Lacy Clay led the defense of artwork by high school student David Pulphus. Pulphus won the Congressional Art Competition, but several of Congressman Clay’s fellow legislators felt the the artwork, which focused on police brutality, was inappropriate for the halls of the U.S. Capitol. These individuals repeatedly removed the artwork, which Congressman Clay dutifully replaced. Eeventially, the Architect of the Capitol removed the work entirely, and Clay filed a lawsuit alleging that the act violated the First Amendment.

CBLDF coverage:

• Judge Finds No First Amendment Protection for Congressional Art Contest Painting
• Judge Hears Arguments Over Removal of Student Painting from Capitol
• Rep. Clay Files Lawsuit Over Removal of Student Art Contest Painting
• CBLDF Joins Condemnation of U.S. Capitol Painting Removal
• Student’s Painting Officially Removed from U.S. Capitol Display
• Speaker Paul Ryan Wants Student’s Painting Removed from Capitol
• Congressional Tug-of-War Over Art Contest Painting Continues
• Congressman Defends Student Art Contest Winner from Calls for Censorship

OFFENDER: Mike Dunn, President of Conejo Valley Unified School District, CA

After an attempt to keep Sherman Alexie’s acclaimed The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian out of classrooms in the Conejo Valley Unified School District. The book was eventually approved, with school board president Mike Dunn, who had repeatedly delayed voting on approving the book, casting the one vote against it. Subsequently, a small contingent of the board developed a red-flagging policy that requires parental warning about “mature” reading materials, allowing a very small component of the community to determine what is appropriate for all students in the district.

CBLDF coverage:

• Conejo Valley School Board Approves ‘Red-Flagging’ of Books
• Conejo Valley Board to Vote on Contested ‘Red-Flagging’ Policy
• Conejo Valley Teachers Fight Back Against Proposed ‘Red-Flagging’ Policy
• VICTORY in California: Conejo Valley Board Finally Approves Part-Time Indian
• Conejo Valley Board Leaves Part-Time Indian in Limbo for Upcoming School Year
• CBLDF Joins Effort to Unblock Approval of Part-Time Indian in California School District

 

OFFENDER: Chris Funk, Superintendent, East Side Union High School District, San Jose, CA

A school district in San Jose, California removed a Black History Month art exhibit from its administrative offices only a few hours after its installation, citing complaints from parents who were offended by artist Mark Harris’ mixed-media collages. Although the East Side Union High School District offices have for many years hosted annual exhibits of “artifacts” from Black history, Superintendent Chris Funk said that Harris’ work exploring civil rights, institutional racism, and police violence is too political to be displayed in the same space.

CBLDF coverage:

• California School District Removes Black History Month Art Exhibit After Parent Complaints

DEFENDER: Governor Terry McAuliffe, Virginia

Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia didn’t just defend the freedom to read once: Governor McAuliffe vetoed a bill that would have led to censorship in schools twice in as many years. The so-called Beloved Bill would have required parental notification of any sexual content in books, but only vaguely defined what content would have required notification. If passed, the bill would have had a chilling effect on free expression as teachers in the state would have avoided important texts to avoid controversy.

CBLDF coverage:

• VICTORY: “Beloved Bill” Vetoed in Virginia
• CBLDF Joins Letter Asking VA Governor to Again Veto ‘Beloved Bill’
• CBLDF Joins Protest of Revived ‘Beloved Bill’ in Virginia
• VICTORY in Virginia: State Board Rejects Classroom Censorship Proposal
• CBLDF Joins NCAC Rebuttal of Arguments for Classroom Censorship in Virginia
• CBLDF Joins Protest of Revived Virginia Proposal to Flag ‘Sexually Explicit’ School Books
• VICTORY in Virginia: Governor Vetoes Classroom Censorship Bill
• Students Join Growing Opposition to VA “Sexually Explicit Content” Bill
• CBLDF Joins Coalition Urging Veto of VA “Sexually Explicit Content” Bill

To find out more about what CBLDF did to defend comics and the right to read in 2017, check out our annual report here.

What does 2018 have in store for us? It remains to be seen, but we expect to be busy defending the right to read! Please include CBLDF in your year-end giving. If you join or renew your membership before the end of the year, you’ll receive an amazing array of awards featuring artwork by Vanesa R. Del Rey! Membership also makes a great last-minute Christmas gift! More details here.

Thank you for your support in 2017! Help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work in 2018 by visiting the Rewards Zone, making a donation, or becoming a member of CBLDF!