Author: Maren Williams

Grad Student Uncovers Truth About Persepolis Ban in Chicago Public Schools

A graduate student’s research is throwing new light on Chicago Public Schools officials’ 2013 effort to remove Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis from libraries and classrooms throughout the district. Emails released in response to a Freedom of Information Act request and first…

CBLDF Podcast Episode 10: Susan Alston

In this episode, CBLDF Executive Director Charles Brownstein talks to former CBLDF Executive Director Susan Alston about the early days of the Fund! We discuss: Mike Diana, Paul Mavrides, social media, the Supreme Court, and much more. In support of…

What Went Wrong in Highland Park?

In a disappointing but unsurprising move this week, the Dallas-area Highland Park Independent School District overhauled the process for approving books to be used in the curriculum. Instead of working from a list of pre-approved books, teachers will now be…

Zunar Arrested for Twitter Criticism of Malaysian Government

Malaysian cartoonist Zunar is currently imprisoned, awaiting questioning over a tweet he posted this week suggesting that the country’s judiciary is corrupted by political or financial influence. He issued the criticism just after the internationally condemned sodomy conviction of former…

Palestinian Cartoonist Questioned About Possible Mohammed Cartoon

Palestinian cartoonist Mohammed Sabaaneh is under investigation for drawing a cartoon that was widely interpreted as depicting the Prophet Mohammed, although the artist himself insists the figure was only a symbolic representation of the Muslim faith. Only a short time…

Highland Park Parent Withdraws Challenge to The Working Poor

The challenge to David K. Shipler’s nonfiction book The Working Poor in the Dallas-area Highland Park Independent School District ended this week before the review process could begin, as the parent who lodged the complaint abruptly withdrew it. Although she…

Graphic Novels Recognized at ALA Youth Media Awards

The American Library Association announced the 2015 honorees of its Youth Media Awards yesterday, and graphic novels scored big! In a pair of comic firsts, Cece Bell’s El Deafo made the shortlist for the Newbery Medal and This One Summer…