Who are the FRIENDS of Religious Freedom, Free Expression and The Arts, in the U.S.?

Leanne Katz, National Coalition Against Censorship
NCAC
275 7th Avenue
New York, NY 10001.

Leanne Katz, Executive Director of the National Coalition Against Censorship. When we gave our 1994 institutional Lifetime Achievement Award for Heroism to the National Coalition Against Censorship, we said that Leanne Katz's "drive, determination, integrity of purpose and clarity of vision make her one of the finest role models free expression activists could hope for." In the past year, she has more than justified that description. Her courageous leadership on a succession of difficult issues has been indispensable at a time of burnout and demoralization. We are especially grateful for her swift response to the harassment campaign directed at the Pink Pyramid, Cincinnati's only gay and lesbian
bookstore, whose video rental copy of Pasolini's Salo served as the basis for "pandering obscenity" charges. Grasping the importance of this case more readily than some free expression advocates who ought to have known better, Leanne Katz initiated an amicus brief supporting attempts to dismiss charges against the bookstore owner and two employees.
This brought the righteous wrath of Donald Wildmon's American Family Association down on her organization. With typical grace and tact, she turned the resulting crisis into a moral victory. We are pleased to honor this passionately sane defender of freedom for her tireless efforts on behalf of all of us.

Rock Out Censorship
POB 147
Jewett, OH 43986

This Ohio-based organization, rooted in the music scene but broadly attentive to First
Amendment issues, was founded by activist John Woods, who understands that any movement worthy of the name must have strong grassroots participation. With the help of its newsletter, an information-packed tabloid that puts slicker publications to shame, Rock Out Censorship informs music fans and musicians while mobilizing them across the country.
A strong supporter of the Right to Rock Network campaign against Parental Advisory labels, ROC is in the forefront of fights against music censorship in many states, most notably in Pennsylvania. Knowing this group exists helps keep members of the BCFE from flinging themselves into Boston Harbor; ROC has our strongest endorsement.

Senators Patrick Leahy (D.-Vermont) and Jim Jeffords (R-Vermont).

In the Green Mountain State, something in the air, the water or the maple syrup seems to help produce a higher class of legislator. Both Leahy and Jeffords have long supported funding without content restriction for the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. This year, Leahy emerged as the Senate leader in the fight against censorship in cyberspace, a fight supported by Jeffords. Among Republicans, Jeffords has established a First Amendment record rivaled only by Rhode Island's John Chafee. Recently Jeffords has not only stood firm against the
prevailing anti-cultural currents of his own party, he has been among the few Senators from either side of the aisle who have marshaled cultural literacy, insight and commitment into efforts to save government support for the arts and humanities.

Music industry activist Nina Crowley.

When a petition seeking to ban sales of records with Parental Advisory labels to minors was presented to the City Council in her home community, Leominster (MA), Nina Crowley played a key role in defeating the measure by circulating a counterpetition and seeking support from the Recording Industry of America, the National Association of Recording Merchandisers, and the ACLU. Out of this effort grew Mass. MIC (the Massachusetts Music Industry Coalition), an organization that brings together musicians, promoters, d.j.s and fans in an effort to uphold freedom of expression in music and all other media. As Mass. MIC's Executive Director, Ms. Crowley has worked tirelessly and effectively to make her organization a major rallying point in the fight to stop censorship in Massachusetts.

Artist Hans Evers.

Contrary to legend, few artists leap at the chance to gain the kind of notoriety censorship incidents confer on them. Hans Evers certainly had nothing of that nature in mind when he installed his city-sponsored exhibit at Gallery 57 in Cambridge, Mass. But when Cambridge City Councilor William Walsh intervened, damaging one piece in
the process of trying to censor it, Evers fought back. Where many artists would have let the matter drop, this one sought  justice - and affirmation of the fact that the First Amendment forbids public officials to act as freelance art vigilantes. Evers got no such satisfaction, and received a welter of ridicule from right- wing columnists and talk-show hosts. But his handling of the situation set a fine example for artists everywhere, and we salute him for it.

Bradford College Class of '95.

Graduating seniors at Bradford College, a small but reputable 4-year liberal arts institution in Haverhill, Mass., traditionally pick their own commencement speaker. Normally, the only issue is availability. This year, Bradford seniors chose author/labor activist Leslie Feinberg, whose novel Stone Butch Blues had been required reading in the Senior Humanities Seminar that half the class was obligated to take. Bradford President Joseph Short refused their request, saying that to invite Feinberg, a self-described transgendered lesbian, would be inconsistent with the dignity of commencement. As one student put it, "We cannot graduate without reading her book, but we cannot hear her speak at graduation." Demanding that Short rescind his decision, students occupied the administration building, alerted the media, and contacted gay rights, labor, and free expression advocates across the state and around the country. Short eventually relented. In her eloquent commencement address, Leslie Feinberg paid tribute to the integrity
and determination of the Class of '95; we're happy to echo her sentiments.

Andover High School student Yvonne Nicoletti.

When Nicoletti, an 18-year-old honor student, arrived at school clad in a T-shirt promoting the band White Zombie, Assistant Principal Ellen Parker ordered her to go home and change.  Parker found the design emblazoned on the shirt, a caricature of large-breasted women, offensive. Nicoletti left the school, but then, with her parents' consent, returned to the school grounds wearing her bra outside the offending shirt to cover some of the graphics. When she began a silent vigil standing on a boulder opposite the school, principal Timothy Thomas ordered her to leave. When she refused, he had her arrested and charged with "disturbing a school," then suspended her indefinitely. With the aid of the Massachusetts Civil Liberties Union, Nicoletti was reinstated at Andover High a few days later. In July, Judge Elizabeth Flatley of Lawrence District Court formally filed the case, insuring that it would slip into oblivion without coming to trial, and leaving the question of Nicoletti's First Amendment rights - and that of other Massachusetts high school students - unresolved. Nicoletti's spirited, courageous, principled stand against censorship serves nevertheless as an example to students in increasingly repressive public schools across Massachusetts.

The anti-censorship activists at Carnegie Mellon University.

Especially (1) former Student Body President Declan McCullagh; (2) Dave Touretzky, who emerged as the faculty leader in the fight against censorship; (3) Alma Whitten and the students, faculty, staff and alumni who make up the Coalition for Academic Freedom of Expression (CAFE); and (4) the pro-sex feminist direct-action group known as the Clitoral Hoods. Serving as an example to
academic communities everywhere, they had the guts to stand up to the heavy-handed tactics of an intellectually dishonest authoritarian administration. (If he had done nothing else, McCullagh would still deserve thanks for discovering that Martin Rimm is the author of the most execrably written novel in the English language, An American Playground.)

Mike Godwin, staff counsel for the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF).

A leader in the fight against government censorship of computer networks, Mike Godwin is an able communicator who explains in clear and eloquent terms the nature of electronic communication and the indispensability of free expression to a working democracy. Mike has served us well by preparing EFF's powerful Congressional testimony, by going one-on-one with the Christian Coalition's Ralph Reed on Nightline, and by doing a lot of the legwork necessary to expose the Martin Rimm "study" for the academic fraud that it is.

Former Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders.

A wise, intelligent, truthful voice in a presidential administration notably lacking in wisdom, intelligence, and truthfulness, Dr. Elders was an isolated voice of reason on the subjects of sex, AIDS, contraception, and drugs. This made her the object of one of the most vicious and persistent hate campaigns ever mounted by the theocratic right. Many would have answered such smears in kind; Elders responded with dignity, humor, and a firm resolve never to be to be silenced. Someday, when American culture reaches adulthood, it will be ready for a Joycelyn Elders, but then the need for her will be less acute.

Nadine Strossen, President of the American Civil Liberties Union.

Noted for her well-articulated and authoritative stands on a range of constitutional issues, Nadine Strossen is the youngest person ever to rise to the presidency of the ACLU. Her book Defending Pornography: Free Speech, Sex, and the Fight for Women's Rights, published in 1995 by Scribner, presents solid arguments, from a feminist perspective, against censorship of sexually explicit material.   One of the best features of this excellent, necessary work is that it clearly and compellingly demonstrates the anti-feminist nature of such censorship. The author of an important essay, "Regulating Racist Speech on Campus," reprinted in the anthology Speaking of Race, Speaking of Sex (NYU Press, 1995), Strossen has lectured eloquently on the problems of free speech in recent public appearances around the country. She teaches at New York Law School; we envy her students.

Skipp Porteous of the Institute for First Amendment Studies

Overview of U.S. Supreme Court decisions impacting religion.
URL http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.religion.html

FindLaw's excellent annotations on all aspects of the First Amendment
URL http://www.findworld.com/data/Constitution/amendment01/

Federal court decisions impacting religious liberty of Native Americans.
URL http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.NA.religion.html

American Indian Religious Freedom Act, 1978.
URL http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.airfa.html

American Indian Religious Freedom Act Amendments of 1994.
URL http://www.calyx.com/~olsen/RELIGION/airfaa.html

Baptist Faith on Religious Liberty.
URL http://www.utm.edu/martinarea/fbc/bfm/17.html

NEW: World Union of Deists.
URL http://www.deism.com/

B'nai B'rith on Religious Liberty.
URL http://bnaibrith.org/pr/praynsch.html

Catholic Church on Religious Liberty (Vatican II).
URL http://www.rc.net/rcchurch/vatican2/liberty.asc

President Clinton's memorandum on Religious Exercise and Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace, 1997.
URL http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.pres.rel.work.html

President Clinton's Guidelines on Religious Exercise and Religious Expression in the Federal Workplace, issued April 1997.
URL http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.guideline.rel.work.html

President Clinton's executive order on Native American Sacred Sites, 1996.
URL http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.pres.sacred.html

President Clinton's memorandum on Religious Expression in Public Schools, 1995.
URL http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.pres.rel.html

The Constitution of the United States of America.
URL http://www.law.cornell.edu:80/constitution/constitution.overview.html

Danbury Baptist Association's letter to Thomas Jefferson and his reply.
URL http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.jeffers.2.html

J.M. Dawson Institute of Church-State Studies at Baylor University.
URL http://www.baylor.edu/departments/Church_State/

Gene Garman's essays on Separation of Church and State.
URL http://www.sunnetworks.net/~ggarman/

Thomas Jefferson on religious liberty: A Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom in Virginia, 1785 and his letter to the Danbury Baptist Association on Separation of Church and State.
URL http://w3.trib.com/FACT/1st.jeffers.html

NEW: The International Coalition for Religious Freedom
URL http://www.religiousfreedom.com/

John Locke's statement on religious toleration: A Letter Concerning Toleration (tolerati), 1689.
URL gopher://gopher.vt.edu:10010/02/116/2

James Madison's statement on religious freedom: Memorial and Remonstrance, 1785.
URL http://www.uark.edu/depts/comminfo/www/memorial.html

A Parent's Guide to Religion in the Public Schools.
URL http://www.fac.org/publicat/parents/parents.htm

Political Science Papers Dealing with the Relationship of Church and State, and Religious Liberty
URL http://members.gnn.com/lpahl/poli-sci.htm

Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1993. Ruled unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, June 1997
URL http://www.calyx.com/~olsen/RELIGION/rfra.html

Religious Liberty: Frequently Asked Questions.
URL http://www.fac.org/religion/relfaq.htm

Philip Schaff on "The American Idea of Religious Freedom" from Church and State in the United States, 1888.
URL http://www.xmission.com/~gastown/revival/religfre.txt

Spiritual Freedom Pledge sponsored by the Ontario Consultants on Religious Tolerance
URL http://www.religioustolerance.org/spir_fre.htm