Lawsuit Challenges Huntington Beach’s Library Book Censorship Policy Over Restricted Sexual Content Books

Huntington Beach, Calif. — A legal battle is brewing in Huntington Beach over the city’s decision to censor and alter the availability of books deemed to contain sexual content in public libraries. The ACLU, along with Orange County’s first transgender-led nonprofit organization, filed a lawsuit challenging the city’s actions, alleging a violation of constitutional rights and the California Freedom to Read Act. The controversy began last year after the city council instructed local librarians to move certain books to less accessible areas of the library. These books, which included titles on the human body, puberty, … Read more

ACLU Sues After Arkansas Library Director Fired for Fighting Book Censorship

Saline County, Ark. — In a striking assertion of First Amendment rights, Patty Hector, the former library director of Saline County, along with the ACLU of Arkansas, have initiated a federal lawsuit against county officials. The suit claims Hector was terminated from her position in retaliation for her vocal opposition to what she perceived as censorship efforts within the public library system. Hector’s dismissal occurred in October 2023, directly following a period of heated public discourse that centered around the contents of the library’s children’s section. Earlier in the year, the Saline County Quorum Court … Read more

Meta Agrees to $25 Million Settlement in Trump Censorship Lawsuit

Meta has agreed to a $25 million settlement to resolve accusations of biased content moderation labeled by Donald Trump. The lawsuit claimed that Trump’s posts were unjustly censored, particularly during his presidency and subsequent political activities. The conflict roots back to Meta’s enforcement of its community standards, which Trump argued were applied unevenly, particularly against conservative viewpoints. This case highlights ongoing debates about the role of social media platforms in political discourse and the balance between moderation and free speech. Trump, an avid user of social media for political communication, encountered various sanctions from platforms … Read more

Miami Artist Withdraws from Exhibition Over Mandatory Anti-BDS Clause, Highlights Rising Censorship in Art Contracts

Pembroke Pines, FL — In a recent turn of events, Les Gomez-Gonzalez, a Miami-based artist, withdrew from the upcoming exhibition “Ebb & Flow: Exploring the Womanhood Continuum” at the Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery. The decision came after discovering a clause in the vendor registration form that required adherence to Florida’s anti-Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) policy involving Israel. This clause, part of Florida Statute 287.135, mandates that vendors do not engage in any boycott activities against Israel. Gomez-Gonzalez, expressing solidarity with Palestine, chose to publicize the issue and exit the event, the only artist … Read more