Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

Cartoonist Susie Cagle Arrested, Released During Weekend Occupy Oakland Protests

by Betsy Gomez • January 30, 2012

by Betsy Gomez

Over the weekend, more than 400 people were taken in during a mass arrest in response to the latest Occupy Oakland protests. Cartoonist Susie Cagle, who was arrested during protests in November, was one of several credential journalists taken in during the mass arrest despite Oakland Police Department policy that members of the media never be targeted because of their status as journalists. This time, Cagle was released on site, when an officer recognized Cagle from her last arrest. Cagle was told that they were doing her a “favor” upon her release.

The Daily Cartoonist has a rundown of Cagle’s tweets during the arrest and release here. Cagle wrote an article for AlterNet a few days before the latest protests, outlining OPD’s new policies regarding protests. Gavin Aronsen with Mother Jones, another journalist arrested during the protests, details his experience — which seems to contravene the policy OPD laid out for Cagle — here.

Please help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work and reporting on issues like this by making a donation or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

Betsy Gomez is the Web Editor for CBLDF.

Features, Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

Comics Alliance Talks to Cliff Chiang About the CBLDF Member Card Artwork

by Betsy Gomez • January 27, 2012

Comics Alliance sat down with superstar artist Cliff Chiang to talk about the gorgeous original artwork he created for the 2012 member card. Keep reading to find out what Chiang told Comics Alliance about his motivation behind the artwork.

Fight Censorship! Celebrate Liberty! Join the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund today, and get your own membership card, featuring a stunning and exclusive portrait of Lady Liberty by Cliff Chiang! Join today!

Features, Homepage

The Good Fighters: Louise Nemschoff

by Betsy Gomez • January 27, 2012

Lawyers too often get a bum rap. Even Shakespeare couldn’t help himself from dumping on lawyers with his imminently quotable quip, “The first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” But that’s really not fair. A good many lawyers work selflessly and passionately to advance the greater good. Louise Nemschoff is most certainly among them.

A long-serving member of CBLDF’s Board of Directors, Louise retired from the board last summer. Throughout her tenure on the board, Nemschoff worked tirelessly to help creators whose rights came under threat. If you ever approached the CBLDF with a trademark, copyright, or entertainment law concern, Nemschoff was probably the person who helped you with the answers you needed.

After a few well deserved months off from CBLDF duty, we caught up with Louise to get her perspectives on the Fund, the First Amendment, and the challenges cartoonists will be facing in the new world of digital media for this installment of The Good Fighters.

Keep reading…

Please help support CBLDF’s important First Amendment work by making a donation or becoming a member of the CBLDF!

Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

CBLDF Member Appreciation Events In New Orleans This Weekend!

by cbldf • January 27, 2012

Member Appreciation Party, Free Gifts For Members & Librarians, and Much More!

This weekend the CBLDF thanks the members supporting our First Amendment legal work at Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con! The festivities kick off at Crescent City Comics tonight, where we’ll have a Member Appreciation Welcome Party with free gifts for CBLDF members, a raffle, and more!

Features, Fundraising, Headline, Homepage, Legal, News Blog

CBLDF Announces 2012 Member Benefits!

by cbldf • January 26, 2012

Fight Censorship! Celebrate Liberty! Join the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund today!

Today, the CBLDF unveiled its 2012 Membership Drive, featuring the best incentives and benefits in the free speech community, starting off with a stunning membership card by superstar creator Cliff Chiang! Channeling the classic depiction of Liberty through the influence of WPA art and comic book iconography, Chiang has created a powerful membership card that you’ll be proud to keep in your wallet. CBLDF offers membership plans for donors in every budget, each with its own premiums and benefits, and all of them are tax-deductible!

Joining the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund puts you on the front line of the fight against censorship! Your membership dollars provide the tools to fight back when comic book readers, retailers and artists are muzzled, censored, or attacked! When you become a CBLDF member, you are proclaiming that comics are important and that you are a protector of their First Amendment rights! Join now!

Fundraising, Homepage, News Blog

Come Support CBLDF At Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con!

by cbldf • January 24, 2012

This weekend come support the CBLDF’s First Amendment legal work at Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con! The festivities kick off at Crescent City Comics on Friday night, where we’ll have a Member Appreciation Welcome Party with free gifts for CBLDF members, a raffle, and more! Then, you can visit us all weekend at Wizard World New Orleans Comic Con booth #806, where we’ll be offering free gifts to members and librarians and a vast range of signed items for CBLDF supporters! Check out all the activities after the jump!