In the aftermath of his overnight arrest last week, Egyptian cartoonist Islam Gawish is speaking out through media interviews to make clear that he will not be intimidated into stopping or modifying his work. In fact, he says the Sisi…
Author: Maren Williams
Atena Farghadani Explained in Pictures
Iranian artist and activist Atena Farghadani has now been in prison for over a year, currently awaiting an appeal of her nearly 13-year sentence for drawing a cartoon that showed members of Parliament as animals. Recently, New Zealand cartoonist Toby…
This One Summer Now Challenged in Seminole County High Schools
Less than a week after This One Summer by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki was removed from three elementary schools in Seminole County, Florida, the critically acclaimed graphic novel is now under fire in the district’s high schools as well. A…
Nadia Khiari Wins Free Expression Award at Angoulême Alternative Festival
This year’s Festival International de la Bande Dessinée in Angoulême, France, stirred up quite a bit of controversy in the comics community, but one FIBD story has largely flown under the radar. That would be the decision not to give out…
Brooklyn Community Archive Features Protest Movement Comics in New Exhibit
CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein recently had the opportunity to tour the current exhibit Our Comics, Ourselves: Identity, Expression, and Representation in Comic Art at Brooklyn’s Interference Archive. Impressed by the visit, he wrote it up for The Beat. Interference Archive…
This One Summer Removed from Seminole County Elementary Schools
This One Summer by Jillian and Mariko Tamaki, which last year made history as the first graphic novel to receive a Caldecott Honor and subsequently was the graphic novel that CBLDF had to defend most frequently in 2015, has been…
CBLDF Signs on to Support American Idiot in Connecticut High School
CBLDF and six other free expression and arts advocacy organizations today signed on to a letter from the National Coalition Against Censorship to Enfield (CT) High School regarding the recent cancellation of a planned student production of the rock opera…
Egyptian Cartoonist Released Without Charge After Overnight Jail Stay
Egyptian cartoonist Islam Gawish was arrested on Sunday, allegedly for operating a website without government authorization, but was released yesterday without charge. Although his cartoons tend towards social rather than political satire, it appears an arresting officer found some of…
Profiles in Black Cartooning: Jackie Ormes
In celebration of Black History Month, CBLDF has partnered with Black Nerd Problems to spotlight Black comics creators and cartoonists who made significant contributions to free expression. Visit CBLDF.org throughout the month of February to learn more! Zelda Jackson Ormes, better known…
Italian Government Draws Ridicule for Covering Nude Statues During Iran Visit
After the Italian government covered up ancient nude statues ahead of a state visit from Iranian President Hassan Rouhani last week, cartoonists are having much fun at officials’ expense, but also leading a debate regarding freedom of expression on the…