Where does your donation go?Memberships

Conventions and Event Fundraising

Donations

Corporate Members

EDUCATIONAL PUBLICATIONS

ADVOCACY

LIBRARIES and SCHOOLS

LEGAL

CONVENTIONS, FESTIVALS and EVENTS

STAFF

Lectures, Workshops and Public Programs

Travel

Convention Booth Education and Fundraising

CBLDF Banned Books Week Handbook

Working with Libraries!A Handbook for Comics Creators

Defend Comics!(Free Comic Book Day)

Raising a Reader!How Comics & Graphic Novels Help Your Kids Love to Read

Letters of SupportLegislative Action & Amicus Briefs

National Coalition Against CensorshipMedia

Coalition

Office Team

Editorial TeamChallenges to comics and graphic novels in libraries and schools are on an alarming rise. CBLDF has been proud to dramatically increase our work to help fight these challenges by collaborating with librarians and associations, and creating tools to help increase the legitimacy of graphic novels as literature. Our work helps librarians and teachers fight for comics, by demonstrating their important place in 21st century literacy.

CBLDF creates high quality program publications, designed to educate readers about their rights and the dangers of censorship. This year our publications showcased the history of banned comics, provided tools for using comics and graphic novels in education, and gave readers, creators, retailers, and educators important guidance for working with their communities to protect the freedom to read, teach, sell, and create comics!

CBLDF is a partner in several vitally important coalitions protecting the First Amendment. We sponsor Banned Books Week and the Kids’ Right to Read Project, and are members of Media Coalition and the National Coalition Against Censorship. These partnerships help us challenge unconstitutional laws,write letters of support when books are challenged, and advance education and advocacy that protects the freedom to read.

CBLDF is run by a small staff that works full-time, year-round, to protect the right to read. Between responding to First Amendment emergencies, developing educational content, public presentations, creating ongoing news and program content, as well as working with artists, stores, and publishers, who aid our constant fundraising, we stay busy. We perform this important work because of your support and donations!

The CBLDF staff and volunteer team is on the road year-round, providing lectures and workshops at comic conventions, book festivals, colleges, libraries, law schools and professional conferences. We distribute our educational publications and raise money at our convention booths. Your donation helps us stay in constant motion, spreading the word about Free Speech and doing outreach we otherwise wouldn’t be able to do.

CBLDF monitors legislation and challenges laws that weaken the First Amendment. Our amicus briefs fight precedent that erodes free speech. In one of our most celebrated moments, the CBLDF’s amicus brief in Brown v. EMA was cited by the Supreme Court in their decision, bringing the history of censorship in comics into the national judicial record.

For over 25 years CBLDF has been dedicated to maintaining a legal defense fund, ready to be deployed when the First Amendment rights of comics stores, creators, and readers are attacked. This money is disbursed to pay for expert legal counsel when comics are the cause of unjust prosecution. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised and put to this good use since 1986.

Banned Books WeekDefense Fund

Kids Right to Read Project

designed by Joyana McDiarmidjoyanamcdiarmid.com

Preventative AssistanceMuch of the legal work done by the CBLDF is private. We spring to action at the first sign of a First Amendment emergency: referring artists to counsel, writing letters of support when needed, and stopping legal troubles before they become costly and public.

Legal CounselCBLDF retains expert counsel to manage First Amendment emergencies. Our legal counsel, Robert Corn-Revere, is one of the the country’s most respected First Amendment attorneys. He has argued, and won, several landmark decisions, and successfully secured a posthumous pardon for the comedian Lenny Bruce.

CBLDF.org

CBLDF Podcast

Join the CBLDF in 2014!

__$100 2014 Membership (Shirt, Button Set, Sticker Set, Member Card, CBLDF Water Bottle) ___ $30 Junior Member (Member Card) ___ $50 Supporter (Button Set, Sticker Set, Member Card)

___ $250 Defender (Shirt, Button Set, Sticker Set PLUS CBLDF Tote Bag and Travel Mug)

___ $500 Supporter (ALL of the above, PLUS CBLDF Messenger bag and 2014 Liberty Annual Complimentary Set !)

___$1000 Champion (ALL of the above, PLUS 2014 Liberty Annual Acknowledgment, and 2014 Publication Assortment) Shirt Size (circle one): S M L XL XXL ____Please send no premiums. Credit Card #____________________________Exp.______ CV______

Make checks payable to ‘CBLDF’. Thank You for your support! The CBLDF is recognized by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) institution, and donations to the Fund are tax-deductible in the year in which they are given. Please contact us for information on deductible amounts for

CBLDF premiums, and consult your tax advisor as to the extent to which this transaction is tax-deductible.

COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND 2013

M E M B E R S H I P S I G N – U P Name ___________________________________________ Address _________________________________________ City _____________________ State _____ Zip _________ Email ____________________________________________

All members joining at the $100 level and higher

will receive the 2014 CBLDF shirt, featuring art by CULLY HAMNER!

These shirts are exclusive to CBLDF Members,

and only available in 2014! More great

premiums are available… Ask a CBLDF

volunteer, or check CBLDF.org today!

for more information!

Name:

Address:

City: State: Zip:

Email:

YOU CAN ALSO DONATE AT CBLDF.ORG/CONRTIBUTE !

Make checks payable to ‘CBLDF’. Thank You for your support! The CBLDF is recognized by the IRS as a not-for-profit 501(c)(3)

institution, and donations to the Fund are tax- deductible in the year in which they are given. Please contact us for information on deductible

amounts for CBLDF premiums, and consult your tax advisor as to the extent to which this transaction is tax-deductible.

$100 2014 Membership (Shirt, Button Set, Sticker Set, Member Card and CBLDF Water Bottle)$30 Junior Member (Member Card)$50 Supporter (Button Set, Sticker Set and Member Card)$250 Defender (Shirt, Button Set, Sticker Set PLUS CBLDF Tote Bag and Travel Mug) $500 Supporter (ALL of the above, PLUS CBLDF Messenger bag and 2014 Liberty Annual Complimentary Set)$1000 Champion (ALL of the above, PLUS 2014 Liberty Annual Acknowledgment, and 2014 Publication Assortment)$2500 Guardian (ALL of the above, PLUS name acknowledgment in select CBLDF publications)

Members joining at the $100 level and higher will receive a

2014 CBLDF shirt, with art by CULLY HAMNER!

These shirts are exclusive to CBLDF Members, and only

available in 2014!

Already a Member, but I would like to further Donate: $

Shirt Size (circle one): S M L XL XXL

Credit Card Payment Card #:

Exp.: CV:Please send no premiums.

CBLDF’s important work made huge strides in 2014! From leading a comics-focused Banned Books Week and expanding our education program, to fighting the rising tide of censorship in schools and providing legal aid in a wide range of comics-oriented cases, the CBLDF’s efforts are more timely than ever.

With the year drawing to a close, we’re asking for you to help sustain our important work by making a tax-deductible membership contribution.

CBLDF works hard to stop censorship in its tracks, with legal experts on call to manage every First Amendment Emergency. We do all this while also developing a broad, preventative program of education work thanks to the support of people like you. Inside, you will find a handy chart detailing how your donations get put to good use.

Membership in the Fund means are you supporting front line defense of Free Speech A variety of “thank you” items are available, depending on your membership level, including branded button sets, tote bags, and an exclusive member t-shirt, featuring art by Cully Hamner! If you are already a member, you can always raise your member level, or simply give a tax deductible donation as the fiscal year comes to a close.

With donors like you on our side, we can sustain our important efforts, and keep comics free from the tyranny of censorship. This is an important fight, and we need your continued support! Donate or join today!

Dear CBLDF Supporter!

SINCERELY,Charles Brownstein

CBLDF Executive Director

Comic Book Legal D

efense Fund255 W

. 36th Street, Suite 501N

ew York, N

Y 10018

COMIC BOOK LEGAL DEFENSE FUND 2014 MEMBERSHIP SIGN-UP