Tag: Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

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Student Works Around Comic Book Ban

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund has a great story about a young Alaskan boy that used comic books in his science fair to work around his teachers ban on comic books in the classroom.  The young man contacted Chris Wilson, with the Graphic Classroom website, via Skype and asked him several questions and Chris even sent him a PowerPoint on the topic.  The young man’s project, about comics in education, went to the Alaska State Science Fair where it won 1st place.  Great job!  Link below to Graphic Classroom’s website.

http://cbldf.org/homepage/intrepid-alaska-third-grader-overcomes-classroom-comics-ban/

http://www.graphicclassroom.org/

http://www.graphicclassroom.org/2012/04/comics-ban-sparks-science-fair-project.html

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Criminal Charges Dropped in Canada Case

The case of Ryan Matheson crossing the border, with manga on his laptop, into Canada were he had his computer confiscated for possible possession and importing of child pornography and was later brought up on charges for same acts, has been dropped by the Crown.  Even though the charges were withdrawn Matheson still has to pay legal fees.  Some of the fees were covered by generous donations, however he still has a fee of $45,000.00, to be paid to the court.  Since the charges have been dropped he will not have any criminal record or be registered as a sex offender.  For the full article follow the link below to Comic Book Legal Defense Funds site:

http://cbldf.org/homepage/criminal-charges-dropped-in-canada-customs-manga-case/

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Comics Under Threat Again?!

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and ICv2 have reported that comic books in the DC area are coming under fire again.  The news story concentrates on comic books not being for little kids any more.  That’s been the case since the 1980’s.  The companies have also placed age level warnings on their comic books to let purchasers know what age demographic it is targeted for.  The shift in story writing has been to allow artists to write and do artwork that is more artistic.  Because of that, the medium has produced some great stories and a wide variety of art styles that are beautiful to view.  There are books and movies that are made for specific audiences, the comic medium is no different.  There are comic books made for different age groups that are available.  To me it all falls back on the parents.  The parent decides on what their child can read and/or watch as a family unit.  You cannot decide what other family units believe is right for their family units to read and/or watch, otherwise you start corrupting what the Constitution stands for.  The psychologist in the report states that the imagery could influence children, well I guess you better not take you child to an art museum because they will see the same type of imagery.  There is a statement that their is violence, sex and adultery in comic books, well children can find all of that in David’s story in the Bible.  Sometimes I just shake my head in wonderment.  To read the stories follow the links posted below.

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/21953.html

http://cbldf.org/homepage/fox-news-report-attacks-comics/

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Library Blocking Websites

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) has posted a report that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has filed suit against the Salem Public Library in eastern Missouri for unconstitutionally blocking religious websites.  This particular library has deemed it necessary to block Native American and Wicca websites, that give information about both religions, based on being “occult” or  “criminal”.  Read the article at CBLDF’s website linked below or the full notice at ACLU’s website linked below:

http://cbldf.org/homepage/aclu-asks-missouri-library-to-stop-censoring-websites/

http://www.aclu-em.org/pressroom/2012pressreleases/010312aclufilessuitstopmol.htm

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CBLDF at Library Conference

The Executive Director of Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, Charles Brownstein, spoke at the Long Island Resources Council’s 20th Annual Conference on Libraries and the Future.  His presentation was over the history of censorship within the comic book industry and the challenge’s the industry will face in the future.  The presentation is available in PDF and in voice recording on the following website so check it out.

http://blog.lilrc.org/ce/2011/11/15/20thannconf/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=20thannconf

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Red Shirt Contest

IDW Publishing is having a contest in conjunction with Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF).  To enter the contest a fan will need to e-mail a 300 word or less explanation of how their retailer is the best and how they would sacrifice themselves defending them to contest@IDWPublishing.com.  The winning fan, along with their retailer, will be depicted on a variant cover of IDW’s Star Trek.  The fan, retailer and CBLDF will each receive 100 copies of the variant cover.  CBLDF will be able to use their copies to assist in future fund raisers.  The winning fan will also receive the original art by the Sharp Brothers.

http://cbldf.org/homepage/be-a-%E2%80%9Credshirt%E2%80%9D-with-idw%E2%80%99s-star-trek-comics-contest-benefitting-cbldf/

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CBLDF Manga Giveaway

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is having a table in Manga Artist Alley at the New York ComicCon this weekend.  If you happen to be attending, stop by their booth.  When an individual signs up and becomes a member you will be entered into a daily manga giveaway.  Donors of some of the prizes are Viz Media, Seven Seas, Vertical, Yen, Dark Horse, DMP, Kodansha, and ALC/Yuricon.  So everyone join a worthy cause and possibly win some manga.

http://cbldf.org/homepage/cbldfs-massive-manga-giveaway-at-nycc/

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Beasi Talks about Canada Case

Melinda Beasi of Manga Bookshelf has written a thoughtful one page essay over at Comic Book Legal Defense Funds website concerning Brandon X’s criminal case in Canada.  In her essay she references George Orwell’s 1984 to great effect.  It is a strong reminder of how striking that this case is being conducted in today’s society.  Use the link below to read the full essay, it is well worth it.

http://cbldf.org/homepage/voicing-an-opinion-manga-bookshelfs-melinda-beasi-talks-canada-customs-case/

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Liberty Cards Available

Here is a way that your patrons, that enjoy comic books and manga, can support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF).  Cryptozoic Entertainment is releasing the CBLDF Liberty Trading Cards this week.  This Fund helps store owners and individuals that have been arrested for selling or owning comic books or manga that some find objectionable.  While some of the titles you yourself might not like the Funds mission is one that library’s should support.  The Fund helps defend challenges to the United States First Amendment.  The packs have five cards per pack with a suggested price of $3.50 per pack.  Inserts within the packs are randomly packed autograph and sketch cards.  This could be a program where libraries could purchase some packages for giveaways at their library or purchase a box and sell the packs for $1.00 and then forward that money on to the CBLDF as an additional donation to the Fund.  This is a way to show your patrons that not just novels are challenged, but also something they enjoy.

http://cbldf.org/homepage/cbldf-liberty-trading-cards-in-stores-this-week/

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CBDLF Annual

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF) is announcing that the CBLDF’s annual will be available this October.  Image Comics is producing the annual which will be a compilation by the industry’s best.  Each story will be about how censorship is the ultimate bullying and how it needs to be defeated.  All proceeds will go to the CBLDF to help fund their efforts to combat censorship.  So this October help out for this special cause.

http://cbldf.org/homepage/fight-for-your-freedom/