Board Of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1982)

"Local school boards may not remove books, simply because
they dislike the ideas contained in those books."

Board banned books

New York, 1976. A Long Island school board removes, from school libraries, all books on a list compiled by political conservatives; books by authors like Kurt Vonnegut, Jr., Desmond Morris, and Langston Hughes; books they call, quote, "anti-American, anti-Christian, and just plain filthy." The Board claims a "duty to protect the children from this moral danger." But some students and parents are more concerned with protecting freedom of speech.

In a five-to-four decision, the Supreme Court puts those books back on the shelves. "Local school boards may not remove books, simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books," writes Justice Brennan. "If a Democratic school board ordered the removal of all books written by Republicans, few would doubt that the order violated the constitution. Our Constitution does not permit the official suppression of ideas."

For more...

Banned Books Week American Library Association

Banned Books On-Line University of Pennsylvania

AMENDMENT 1 Freedom of Religion, Speech, and Assembly

Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. [^].

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