Home : Free Speech : Censorship

Comedians Greg Proops and Maggie Cassella, artist Daniel Heyman, slam poets Steve Connell and Sekou (tha misfit) and ACLU attorney Ben Wizner discuss censorship and civil liberties

Former ACLU client Ron Bilbao talks about his involvement in the banned books case American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, Inc., Greater Miami Chapter, et. al. v. Miami-Dade County School Board

Creative Arts, Media and Free Speech Groups Join ACLU In Urging Supreme Court To Reject FCC Censorship (08/07/2008)
NEW YORK – In a friend-of-the-court brief filed today on behalf of creative arts, media and free speech organizations, the American Civil Liberties Union criticized the Federal Communication Commission's regulation of "indecent speech" as arbitrary, inconsistent and irreconcilable with core First Amendment values. The brief urges the Supreme Court to uphold a lower court ruling in Federal Communication Commission (FCC) v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. striking down the recent FCC decision to ban even "fleeting expletives" from the airwaves as an unjustified departure from the agency's longstanding practices.

ACLU Applauds Federal Court Decision To Toss Fine In "Wardrobe Malfunction" Case (07/21/2008)
NEW YORK - The American Civil Liberties Union today applauded a federal appeals court decision to uphold free speech by throwing out a $550,000 indecency fine leveraged against CBS for the Janet Jackson “wardrobe malfunction” that exposed her breast at the 2004 Super Bowl.

Súplica del Triunfo de los Reporteros en Caso de la Brutalidad del FBI (06/19/2008)
SAN JUAN, PR - Una corte federal de apelación dictaminó ayer que un ataque no provocado contra periodistas por los agentes del FBI violaría claramente la Cuarta Enmienda. La Corte de Apelación de los E.E.U.U. para el Primer Circuito revocó una decisión de desestimación en un pleito traído por la ACLU a nombre de los periodistas que fueron golpeados a patadas y puños y rociados con gas pimienta por los agentes del FBI mientras intentaban cubrir un allanamiento en un apartamento en San Juan.

Journalists Win Appeal In FBI Brutality Case (06/19/2008)
SAN JUAN, PR - A federal appeals court ruled yesterday that an unprovoked attack on journalists by FBI agents would clearly violate the Fourth Amendment. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit reversed an earlier decision to dismiss a lawsuit brought by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of journalists who were kicked, punched and pepper sprayed by FBI agents as they attempted to report on the search of a San Juan apartment.

Booksellers, Publishers, Librarians and Others Challenge Censorship Law (04/28/2008)
PORTLAND, Ore. - Should a grandmother have to risk being charged with a crime if she gives her 7-year-old grandson a copy of "It's Perfectly Normal," a sex education book widely regarded as among the best available?

Hate Speech on Campus (12/31/1994)
ACLU Q&A on hate speech on university campuses

FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc. - Amicus Brief (08/07/2008)
On August 7, 2008 the ACLU filed an amicus brief on behalf of creative arts, media and free speech organizations criticizing the Federal Communication Commission's regulation of "indecent speech" as arbitrary, inconsistent and irreconcilable with core First Amendment values.

Puerto Rico Journalists' Association v. Mueller - Reply Brief of Appellants (01/25/2008)

Puerto Rico Journalists' Association v. Mueller - Brief for Appellees (01/16/2008)

Puerto Rico Journalists' Association v. Mueller - Brief of Appellants (11/05/2007)
Brief of Appellants to the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals

Puerto Rico Journalists' Association v. Mueller - District Court Opinion and Order (06/13/2007)

ACLU Comments to FCC Regarding Net Neutrality (03/14/2008)

ACLU Testimony Before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations Regarding Censorship At the Borders (03/28/2006)
Statement of Caroline Fredrickson Director, Washington Legislative Office American Civil Liberties Union Before the Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations Committee on Government Reform, United States House of Representatives Concerning Setting Post-9/11 Investigative Priorities at the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, March 28, 2006

ACLU Comments to the Federal Communications Commission re: MB Docket No. 04-261, the Matter of Violent Television Programming and Its Impact on Children (09/15/2004)

ACLU Testimony of Marvin J. Johnson, Legislative Counsel, at a Hearing on the Committee Print to Amend the Federal Trademark Dilution Act Before the Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property of the House Committee on the Judiciary (04/21/2004)

Coalition Sign-on Letter Submitting Comments to the FEC in Response to the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Political Committee Status (04/06/2004)

FCC v. Fox Television Stations and "Fleeting Expletives" (08/07/2008)
On August 7, 2008, the ACLU filed a friend-of-the-court brief on behalf of several creative arts, media and free speech organizations criticizing the Federal Communication Commission's regulation of "indecent speech" as arbitrary, inconsistent, and irreconcilable with core First Amendment values. The brief urges the Supreme Court to uphold a ruling from New York in FCC v. Fox Television Stations, Inc., striking down the FCC's recent decision to ban even "fleeting expletives" from the airwaves as an unjustified departure from the agency's longstanding practice.

Fleeting Expletives Legislation Talking Points (09/19/2007)

ACLU of Arkansas' Letter to the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission (07/10/2007)
ACLU of Arkansas' letter to the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, submitted as amicus curiae in support of Judge Wendell Griffen.

Defending First Amendment Rights (09/26/2006)

The Ten Most Challenged Books of 2006 (09/26/2006)

Additional Statements of Leslie Weise and Alex Young (11/21/2005)

Ashcroft v. The Free Speech Coalition (09/01/2001)
DECIDED

Ashcroft v. ACLU (09/01/2001)
DECIDED

Puerto Rico Journalists' Association v. Mueller (11/05/2007)