Resources for Promoting Freedom of Speech
Find your place in the worthy endeavor to protect the freedom of speech.
The Free Speech Center
Nonpartisan, nonprofit public policy center dedicated to building understanding of the five freedoms of the First Amendment.
History of Censorship
A small collection of books about the history of censorship, mainly in the United States. More countries to be included as resources grow.
U.S. Constitution
Read a transcription of the Constitution of the United States as it was originally inscribed by the clerk, Jacob Shallus, on parchment in September, 1787.
Bill of Rights
Among other rights, the first Amendment to the Constitution establishes the right to freely express one's thoughts, to write them down and make them public.
Report Censorship
From the American Library Association (ALA): "Libraries should challenge censorship in the fulfillment of their responsibility to provide information and enlightenment."
CBLDF
The CBLDF assists educators and librarians by providing access to resources and writing letters of support in cases where comics are challenged by various institutions and organizations.
10/21/2022
A recent addition to Banned Books Week, this project by the America Association of School Librarians, attempts to draw attention to how website filtering software obstructs the educational process.
ACLU
"Our job is to conserve America's original civic values - the Constitution and the Bill of Rights - and defend the rights of every man, woman and child in this country." — ALCU Website
Merchandise
Wear your cause on your sleeve with "I Read Banned Books" merchandise, including t-shirts, tote bags, pouches, coffee/tea mugs, pins and more sold through Amazon Marketplace.
The Green Feather Movement
Read the article by Alison Kysia about the history of a little-known student resistance movement against McCarthyism and censorship.
NCAC
"We envision an American society that understands, values, defends, and vigorously exercises free expression in a just, egalitarian, diverse, and inclusive democracy." — NCAC Vision
Campaign Against Censorship
"The CAC opposes censorship and promotes freedom of expression in the United Kingdom." — Opening statement on the CAC's official Website.
Every Year in September
Banned Books Week
Visit the Official Website.
From the Banned Books Week website:
Banned Books Week is the annual celebration of the freedom to read. The event is sponsored by a coalition of organizations dedicated to free expression, including American Booksellers Association; American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of University Presses; Authors Guild; Comic Book Legal Defense Fund; Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE); Freedom to Read Foundation; Index on Censorship; National Coalition Against Censorship; National Council of Teachers of English; PEN America; People For the American Way Foundation; and Project Censored. It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. Banned Books Week also receives generous support from DKT Liberty Project and Penguin Random House.
Online Resources on Non-Discrimination
About Current Efforts to Censor Writing.
"Book Ban Efforts Spread Across the U.S." By Elizabeth A. Harris and Alexandra Alter (New York Times)
"Book Bans Are Targeting the History of Oppression" By Marilisa Jiménez Garcia (The Atlantic)
"Why are certain school books being banned in US?" By Anthony Zurcher (BBC)
"Why book banning is back" By Zack Beauchamp (Vox)
"Librarians Fight Back Against Efforts to Ban Books in Schools" By David Montgomery (Education Week)
"How some students are fighting back against book bans in their schools" By Danielle Campoamor (Today)
"Book bans are back in style" Russell Contreras (Axios)
"Librarians Grapple With Conservatives’ Latest Efforts to Ban Books" BY Oliva B. Waxman (Time)
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causticity.com
Two major resources for addressing censorship are The American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom and The National Coalition Against Censorship.