Project Censored, a media watchdog group, has released its list of the top 25 most censored stories in the US from 2006-2007. Among them are the death of habeas corpus, the moves made towards martial law, massacres in Haiti, and genetic transmission of toxic exposures to name a few.

For the full list and details you can visit the project censored website at http://www.projectcensored.org/censored_2008/index.htm

Young investigative reporter and Remapo High School student Andrew Gross thought he had a real scoop. After tracking down the parties involved and gathering background on his highshool’s drug culture, Gross wrote a hard hitting story covering the largest drug bust in his school’s recent history. When it came time to go to print he found his hard work was being blocked from publication.

Though Gross had performed his job in a professional and appropriate manner, district superintendent Paul Saxton pulled the article citing fears that releasing details of the event would damage the suspects chances at a fair trial, though the names of the students were never used.

Previous court rulings have upheld that schools have the right to monitor their publications, but the rulings were in instances where the material was categorically offensive or opened the school up to liability. Neither was the case in this instance, which Gross pointed out to school administrators.

Administrators agreed to let Gross run the story only if he removed all information about the incident which had been given freely and on the record by school officials or wait for the investigation and subsequent trials to conclude.

An elementary school in the southwest part of Chicago is being applauded by the ALA for standing by the book The Chocolate War and allowing it to remain on it’s 7th grade reading list. The book was attacked by some parents for coming of age content they felt was too mature or wholly inappropriate for young readers.

The school countered citing the books strong central character who stands by his principles. A spokesperson for the ALA expressed her support for educators that their decisions on content for the whole not be swayed by individual parents.

Library officials in Chandler Arizona are reviewing the book “Where Willy Went”, a children’s sex education text, to determine whether the book should be removed from library shelves. This comes after four parents complained about the books contents. One mother’s concern came after her child found the text open on a reading table.

The parents request to have the book removed followed the denial of their request to relocate the book to the adult section of the library. Also currently under review for removal is an audio-book by comedian George Carlin and the periodical the Phoenix New Times.

To protest the removal of educational materials from the Chandler Library you can call library administration at (480) 782-2812.

The Trial of Ruby McCollum made it into Lake City, Florida bookstores. The author, C.Arthur Ellis, Jr. Ph.D.,  was not so lucky.  One  Floridian newspaper editor attempted to warn Ellis off. Following his failure,  bookstore owners who were to host Ellis’ book signing canncelled the event citing the “sensitive nature of the material”.

The book examines the trial of Ruby McCullom. McCollum was  an African American woman theatened by her husband if she had her lovers child, and theatened by her white lover if she keept it. The trial followed the murder of her lover.

A new season begins for the reader advocates at the Book-It Repository Theater. Now in it’s 18th season this legion of literature is bringing humanities greatest works to the stage and inspiring new readers. “We are really excited about next seasons line-up” said co-founding directors Jane Jones and Myra Platt in a press release. “Titles for the new season include Snow Falling on Cedars by David Guterson, Peter Pan by J.M. Barrie, Persuasion by Jane Austin, and The Highest Tide by Jim Lynch.”

Also included in their Touring Stories is Danger: Books!, a series of excerpts from banned and challenged books. The most controversial sections of the books are performed for the audience, followed by a discussion on the first amendment and book banning. For more information about Book-It you can go to The Book-It Homepage.

Students and employees from the University of North Carolina gathered Thursday to protest the censoring of a recent article by the University Gazette. The article, which was submitted by the universities Employee Forum, shed light on current legislation aimed at repealing laws that prohibit collective bargaining by public service workers.

The Forum has passed a resolution asking Chancellor James Moeser to support the printing of the article and to apologize for the Gazette’s dismissal. The Forum was backed by the Student Action with workers and the Students for a Democratic Society. The Gazette has stated it has no plans to print the article in the future.

The board of the Jackson-George Regional Library System is currently deliberating the removal of the book “Happy Endings: The Tales of a Meaty-Breasted Zilch” from it’s shelves. This action was taken to the board after complaints from a single patron. This is following the removal of the book “America”, by well known political comedian Jon Stewart. The Stewart book was returned to library shelves after the library received protests.

Whether or not the book is in bad taste, as always, the purview of the reader where it should remain. If you would like to contest the removal of a book based on a patrons complaint you can contact Rex Bridges-Public Relations for the Jackson George Regional Library System email pr@jgrls.org and phone (228) 769-3130 and Michael Hamlett, director of the Jackson-George Regional Library System, e-mail director@jgrls.org, phone (228) 769-3227.

In response to warnings in early 2004 that radical Islam was making it’s way into the US penal system, the Federal Bureau of Prisons began planning for the removal of library materials which they deemed ‘dangerous’ or ‘inciting violence’.

The purpose of the ban was to remove the threat of prisoners being recruited to radical fringe groups. Yet in the latest sweep, the Bureau produced a list of 150 books for each of the major religions which they deemed noncontroversial and began systematically removing all other religious materials from the prison library system.

Included in the ‘dangerous materials’ removed from New Yorks’ Otisville Prison were 75% of Jewish works, some dated as early as the twelfth century. Though the ban purports to be a defense against radicalism, the list has weeded out non-islamic religious texts with a liberal bent. Legal precedent allows the prisons broad discretion in these matters, needing only to show valid penological interest to proceed.

This is the home of the Freedom Readers. What is a Freedom Reader you ask?

If you feel that it’s not enough just to believe in the freedom of the written word. If you’re willing to fight for it. Then you could be a Freedom Reader.

It is our goal in the next month to bring you news, event info, discussions about censorship in writing, and community actions to participate in. Until then if you want to join up, pitch in, or would just like more info you can e-mail me at michael@freedomreaders.com

Keep those pages turning!

-Michael Martinez-Mann