American Booksellers Association (ABA)
www.bookweb.org
828 South Broadway
Tarrytown NY 10591
(800) 637-0037
fax (914) 591-2720
The American Booksellers Association (ABA), the national retail book industry trade association, has a long history of defending First Amendment rights. Perhaps the best-known ABA anti-censorship effort is Banned Books Week, a program aimed at spotlighting books that have been banned. The ABA also sponsors several other efforts in support of free expression, including seminars and conferences to educate booksellers about censorship issues, participation in court cases, and the publication of a weekly newsletter to keep booksellers informed about impending legislation and court cases.

American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE)
www.abffe.org
139 Fulton Street
Suite 302
New York NY 10038
(212) 587-4025
fax (212) 587-2436
The goal of this organization, launched in 1990 by the American Booksellers Association, is to “inform and educate the booksellers, other members of the book industry and the public about the deleterious effects of censorship; and to actively promote and protect the free expression of ideas, particularly freedom of choice of reading materials.” The foundation is a co-sponsor of Banned Books Week and a sponsor of other events aimed at protecting First Amendment rights. The organization publishes ABFFE Update, an on-line newsletter dealing with censorship issues. In 1992, the foundation published the book Censorship and First Amendment Rights: A Primer. It also has publications on violence, pornography, and privacy.

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)
www.aclu.org
National Headquarters
125 Broad Street
18th floor
New York NY 10004
(212) 549-2519
fax (212) 549-2656
This national, nonpartisan organization is dedicated to protecting the principles embodied in the United States’ Bill of Rights. Activities include litigation, legislation, and public education. The Arts Censorship Project coordinates anti-censorship activities.

American Library Association, Office for Intellectual Freedom
www.ala.org/alaorg/oif
50 East Huron Street
Chicago IL 60611
(800) 545-2433
fax (312) 280-4227
The Office for Intellectual Freedom coordinates ALA programs in the areas of intellectual freedom and censorship. A co-sponsor of Banned Books Weeks with the American Booksellers Association, the office seeks to educate librarians and the general public about the importance of intellectual freedom in libraries. A bimonthly publication, Newsletter on Intellectual Freedom, is published by the office and includes an intellectual freedom bibliography.

American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA)
www.asja.org
1501 Broadway
Suite 302
New York NY 10036
(212) 997-0947
fax (212) 768-7414
The professional rights committee of ASJA is involved in supporting the rights of free expression of individual authors. The committee sponsors the annual I Read Banned Books campaign.

The Authors Guild
www.authorsguild.org
31 East 28th Street
10th floor
New York NY 10016
(212) 563-5904
fax (212) 564-5363
The Authors Guild, a national society of professional authors, has long been involved in preserving and defending First Amendment rights. Since its founding in 1921, the guild has been involved in school book banning cases and has provided testimony before congressional and legislative committees.

Free Expression Network (FEN)
www.freeexpression.org
The Free Expression Network, founded in 1991, is a national coalition of organizations that include writers, artists, librarians, filmmakers, booksellers, video and recording store owners, publishers, recording producers, musicians, journalists, lawyers, distributors of expressive materials, and organizations and individuals united in the belief that free expression and free access to the expression of others is the indispensable precondition of liberty. The Free Expression Network believes that the protection of expressive freedom enhances the shared values of tolerance and diversity that underlie American culture. Perhaps no right guaranteed by the Constitution is more important to American society than freedom of speech; it is the foundation of all freedom. Speech lies at the core of our spiritual life, our creative achievements, our economic vitality, our scientific advancement, and is the very means by which we govern ourselves.

Freedom to Read Committee
www.publishers.org
Association of American Publishers
71 5th Avenue
New York NY 10003-3004
(212) 255-0200
fax (212) 255-7007
Affiliated with the Association of American Publishers, this committee is concerned with protecting freedoms guaranteed by the First Amendment. It analyzes individual cases of attempted censorship and may take action in the form of legal briefs, testimony, or public statements. It also educates the public about First Amendment issues by publishing reports and sponsoring public programs.

Freedom to Read Foundation
www.ftrf.org
50 East Huron Street
Chicago IL 60611
(800) 545-2433
fax (312) 280-4227
The Freedom to Read Foundation, organized by the American Library Association in 1929, consists of librarians, lawyers, booksellers, educators, authors, publishers, and others concerned with preserving the rights of free expression and thought. The foundation provides legal and financial assistance to librarians and others who are involved in litigation to defend these rights.

Freedom to Write Committee
www.pen.org/freedom/index.htm
PEN American Center
568 Broadway
Suite 401
New York NY 10012
(212) 334-1660
fax (212) 334-2181
As a program founded by the PEN American Center, this committee is actively involved in protesting the harassment of writers worldwide. It fights book banning in libraries and schools around the United States and offers testimony in Congress on issues affecting writers. It is also a member of the steering committee on the National Coalition of Writers. The coalition has been engaged in campaigns to fight the anti-obscenity provisions of National Endowment for the Arts grants.

Institute for First Amendment Studies
www.ifas.org
The Institute for First Amendment Studies publishes The Freedom Writer, a newsletter that reports on First Amendment issues, particularly those that threaten the guarantee of separation of church and state.

Media Alliance, WNET/Thirteen
www.mediaalliance.org
450 West 33rd Street
New York NY 10001
(212) 560-2919
Serving primarily print and broadcast journalists and other media professionals, the alliance sponsors public discussions and forums on First Amendment and censorship issues.

The Media Coalition, Inc.
www.mediacoalition.org
139 Fulton Street
Suite 302
New York NY 10038
(212) 587-4025
fax (212) 587-2436
The Media Coalition is an association that defends the First Amendment right to produce and sell books, magazines, recordings, and videotapes. It defends the American public’s right to have access to the broadest possible range of opinion and entertainment. Founded in 1973, it represents most of the booksellers, book and periodical publishers, periodical wholesalers and distributors, recording producers, and video retailers in the United States. The coalition regularly distributes reports that outline activities of Congress and state legislative committees that deal with the regulation of material protected by the First Amendment. It writes to government officials in an effort to advise them on proposed legislation. It also files legal challenges to unconstitutional laws and provides briefs in cases involving the First Amendment rights of the producers and distributors of constitutionally protected works.

Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA)
www.mpaa.org
15503 Ventura Blvd
Encino CA 91436
(818) 995-6600
Although its primary concern is reviewing legislation at the state and local levels that impacts motion pictures, the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA) monitors all legislation affecting First Amendment rights.

National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC)
www.ncac.org
275 7th Avenue
20th Floor
New York NY 10001
(212) 807-6222
fax (212) 807-6245
The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) is an alliance of national organizations that include religious, educational, professional, artistic, labor, and civil rights groups committed to defending freedom of thought, inquiry, and expression. Coalition activities include conferences, program assistance, advocacy, and the monitoring of legislation related to First Amendment rights. NCAC compiles and disseminates educational materials. The coalition’s Clearinghouse on School Book-Banning Litigation provides up-to-date information on the status of school censorship cases. The coalition publishes a quarterly newsletter, Censorship News.

PEN Center USA West
www.pen-usa-west.org
672 South Lafayette Park Place
Suite 42
Los Angeles CA 90057
(213) 365-8500
fax (213) 365-9616
The regional branch of PEN American Center, PEN Center USA West is composed of members who live in the West. It concerns itself with defending writers who have been censored or imprisoned worldwide.

People for the American Way
www.pfaw.org
2000 M Street NW
Suite 400
Washington DC 20036
(800) 326-7329
fax (202) 293-2672
Founded in 1980, this organization provides legal, technical, and organizational assistance to communities and individuals fighting censorship.

Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA)
www.vsda.org
16530 Ventura Blvd
Suite 400
Encino CA 91436-4551
(800) 955-8732
This nonprofit international trade association is involved in monitoring and preventing legislation that affects access to constitutionally protected material, particularly home videos. Activities of the organization include lobbying, filing briefs, and participating in lawsuits.

The First Amendment
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.