Around the world, particularly in developing countries with low literacy rates, political cartoons serve an important function in public debate. But too often, cartoonists who defy secular or religious authorities face intimidation, arrest, violent attacks, and even death. Cartoonists Rights…
Category: Features
Iranian Cartoonist Continues to Speak Out From Exile
In 2009, Iran errupted into violent protest over the results of an election that Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won by a landslide, leading many to believe that he had stolen the election. As the streets filled with protestors, riot police, and teargas,…
The Cases That Define Obscene or Protected Speech
Much of the groundwork for CBLDF’s mission was laid in a series of pivotal legal cases, many of which predate CBLDF’s founding in 1986. These cases helped define what constituted obscene speech and what types of speech are granted First…
Vague Legal Definitions Threaten Japanese Comic Readers
For the second time in four years, members of the Japanese Diet (legislature) are attempting to revise the nation’s flawed child pornography law. While initial revision proposals offered some hope that the problems with the law would be fixed, the…
School Counselor Who Defended The Family Book Named GLSEN Educator of the Year
Last year, the school board in Erie, Illinois, voted to remove Todd Parr’s The Family Book and other GLBT-friendly resources from the curriculum despite a review committee’s recommendation that they be conserved. CBLDF joined with several other anti-censorship organizations in…
Obscenity Case Files: George Carlin’s Seven Dirty Words
When George Carlin recorded an expletive-laden 12-minute monologue before a live audience in a California theatre, he probably didn’t expect it to become the basis of a key Supreme Court decision. But in 1973, the monologue was aired as part…
A Tax on Violence? Not So Fast
In a meeting with religious leaders last week, Vice President Joe Biden stated that there is “no legal reason” that the government couldn’t impose extra taxes on entertainment media that depict violence such as movies and video games. Actually, there…
Bangladeshi Cartoonist Recounts Time in Prison
In 2007, Arifur Rahman published a cartoon featuring a character called Mohammad Cat. The cartoon was published during the Islamic holy day of Ramadan, and its publication led to protests across Bangladesh. Rahman was arrested and sentenced to 6 months…
CBLDF Heads to Big Wow Comicfest This Weekend!
This weekend, comics fans will gather in San Jose, California, for Big Wow Comicsfest, an ever-growing celebration of comics creators. CBLDF will be on hand in booth #234 with exclusive signed premiums, t-shirts, and more! Big Wow takes place May…
Online Retailer Won’t Send Some Manga to Canada Because of Customs Seizures
Canadian manga-lovers website Kuriousity posted a story this week about an online retailer that no longer sells Bond of Dreams, Bonds of Love, a yaoi (boy’s love) manga from SuBLime Manga, to Canadian residents. Lissa Patillo with Kuriousity writes that…