Home : Free Speech : Censorship

On Eve of 'Banned Books Week,' Texas Judge Blocks Censorship of Two Gay Parenting Books in Library (09/20/2000)
WICHITA FALLS, TX --A federal judge today struck down a local law that restricted public library access to two books about gay parenting, calling the policy unconstitutional, the American Civil Liberties Union announced.

Louisiana Court Orders Sheriff to Return Confiscated Music to Skating Rink (08/28/2000)
NEW IBERIA, LA -- Saying that a local sheriff may not censor the music at a skating rink, a federal judge today ordered officials to return all confiscated music, including the "Hokey Pokey," and songs by Britney Spears and Snoop Doggy Dog, to the rink owner.

PA Town Ends Fight Over Resident's Display of "Butterfly" Artwork on Front Lawn (03/22/2000)
UPPER ST. CLAIR, PA -- An artist's eight-month battle with town officials over her right to display a painting of butterflies in her front yard ended today with an agreement that all residents are entitled to display constitutionally protected words and images.

"Hands Off Art;" CA Appeals Court Tells State Liquor Control Agency in Palm Springs Controversy (03/07/2000)
LOS ANGELES, CA--California's Alcohol Beverage Control agency misused its authority when it threatened to revoke the liquor license of an organization displaying an erotic art show, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals here ruled today in a case brought by the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California.

Kansas Court to Hear ACLU Case Of Honor Student Expelled for Displaying Artwork (01/28/2000)
WICHITA, KS -- At a hearing this morning in Wichita, the American Civil Liberties Union will ask a federal judge to overturn the expulsion of a high school senior for displaying artwork deemed "threatening." ool board has said that before it will allow the honor student to return to school, she must submit to a mental heath examination and agree to be put on probation for the remainder of the school year.

ACLU Vows Legal Action Over Honor Student's Expulsion for Displaying Artwork (01/20/2000)
LEON, KANSAS -- As school officials convened this morning to hear an appeal of a high school senior expelled for displaying artwork deemed "threatening," the American Civil Liberties Union of Kansas and Western Missouri vowed to bring a court challenge if the punishment is not rescinded.

ACLU Defends Teacher's Right to Post Banned Book List in Virginia (01/12/2000)
The complaint, filed earlier today in U.S. District Court in Harrisonburg, claims that Spotswood High School Principal C. James Slye violated the First Amendment rights of English teacher Jeffrey Newton and the students of the school when on September 29, 1999 he summarily ordered the removal of the lists. 

ACLU Sues FBI, Justice Dept. Over Censorship of Fictional "Y2K Military Takeover" Film (12/22/1999)
NEW YORK -- Federal law enforcement officials sidestepped the Constitution when they suppressed a short film about a secret military takeover of Times Square on New Year's Eve that they knew to be fictional, the American Civil Liberties Union charged in a lawsuit today.

ACLU Challenges McCarthy-Era Anti-Communist Propaganda Law (12/15/1999)
NEW ORLEANS -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana today filed a federal lawsuit challenging a remnant of the McCarthy era witchhunts that makes possession of so-called "communist propaganda" a felony punishable with up to six years in jail and a $10,000 fine.

ACLU Prepares to Defend High School Teacher's Right to Post List of Banned Books (12/01/1999)
RICHMOND, VA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Virginia said that it is prepared to go to court to defend the free speech rights of a local high school teacher who was forced to remove two American Library Association lists of banned books he had posted on his classroom door.

ACLU of Arkansas Acts to Restore Controversial Artwork to University Exhibit (11/05/1999)
LITTLE ROCK, AR -- Resolving a classic First Amendment conflict, the ACLU of Arkansas announced today that state university officials have restored two pieces of censored artwork to a local exhibition at the University of Arkansas at Monticello.

ACLU in Court Again to Defend Library Against CA Parent Seeking Internet Censorship (10/19/1999)
SAN FRANCISCO -- In a friend-of-the-court brief filed before a California appeals court, the American Civil Liberties Union is once again joining a unique legal battle over whether a parent can force a public library to censor Internet access of all its patrons in order to control her own child's use of the Internet.

ACLU of VA Prevails in Challenge to County's Residency Restrictions on Use of Public Forum (10/13/1999)
RICHMOND, VA -- The full Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals today reversed an earlier decision by a three-judge panel of the same court when it struck down the residency requirements for use of a public forum in Fairfax County.

Civil Liberties Union Files Brief Supporting Brooklyn Museum In Controversy with Mayor Giuliani (10/08/1999)
NEW YORK--In a 17-page "friend-of-the-court" brief submitted in federal court today, the New York Civil Liberties Union and the American Civil Liberties Union said that Mayor Rudolph Giuliani "flagrantly violated" the First Amendment in seeking to punish the Brooklyn Museum of Art over a controversial exhibit.

NYC Rallies Against Mayor's Attack on Brooklyn Museum of Art (10/01/1999)
NEW YORK -- At a protest rally and candlelight vigil tonight outside the Brooklyn Museum of Art, New York City's artists, writers and supporters of the First Amendment are calling on Mayor Rudy Giuliani to end his attack on the museum over a controversial show due to open on October 2.

Civil Liberties Union Urges Mayor to Withdraw Threats to Brooklyn Museum Over Art Controversy (09/24/1999)
NEW YORK -- In a letter sent today to City Hall, attorneys for the American Civil Liberties Union and the New York Civil Liberties Union urged Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani to end his threats to cut off funding to a museum because of his objections to a controversial art exhibition.

ACLU Challenges Ban on Profanity in Colorado (09/16/1999)
COLORADO SPRINGS -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado today filed suit and challenged a Colorado regulation that bars profanity in bars and restaurants that sell liquor.

ACLU Warns Ohio Mayor Not to Stifle Speech on Local Citizen Group's Website (08/12/1999)
CLEVELAND -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today sent a letter to Berea Mayor Stanley Trupo, warning him to cease efforts to shut down a website critical of him and other city officials.

Toledo Teen Loses the T-Shirt Off His Back (08/07/1999)
TOLEDO, OH -- When 13-year-old Daniel Shellhammer left his grandmother's house in Northwood to buy soft drinks with a friend, he gave little thought to the T-shirt he was wearing -- until he was confronted by a police officer who made him remove it.

Citing Marketplace of Ideas, Michigan Court Puts Internet Censorship Law on Hold (07/29/1999)
DETROIT -- Saying that Internet speakers faced an unconstitutional "Hobson's Choice" between free speech and criminal prosecution, a federal judge today halted enforcement of a state law criminalizing online communications deemed "harmful to minors."