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National Coalition Against Censorship

The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), established in 1974, is a federation of nearly sixty American nonprofit organizations dedicated to the promotion and defense of First Amendment rights. By serving as a collaborative platform for various groups—such as the American Library Association and the Screen Actors Guild—the NCAC addresses issues of censorship in a comprehensive manner. It focuses on raising awareness about censorship practices across the United States and provides educational resources to its member organizations on effectively navigating these challenges.

Key initiatives include the publication of quarterly newsletters, such as *Censorship News*, and specialized reports like *Books in Trouble*, which highlight book banning controversies. The NCAC also maintains Censorpedia, a crowdsourced database documenting censorship cases in culture and the arts. Additionally, the organization actively monitors legislation affecting First Amendment rights and organizes coalitions at state and local levels to combat censorship. Its primary programs, including the Kids' Right to Read Project and the Youth Free Expression Program, aim to support and advocate for the free expression rights of young individuals. Through these efforts, the NCAC seeks to uphold the principles of free speech and expression in an increasingly complex and often contentious landscape.

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  • FOUNDED: 1974
  • TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Federation of American anti-censorship organizations

SIGNIFICANCE: The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) has promoted and defended First Amendment rights on both national and local levels.

The NCAC is a loose association of over fifty national, nonprofit organizations that have a stake in First Amendment rights. Some of the participating organizations are the American Jewish Congress, the American Library Association, Planned Parenthood of America, and the Screen Actors Guild. The NCAC works for this wide array of organizations as their anti-censorship program. The organizations involved either do not have an anti-censorship program of their own or they work with and contribute to the NCAC as part of their First Amendment activities.

The NCAC works toward disseminating information about current censorship practices in the United States. It runs education programs for its participating organizations on how to deal with censorship. It publishes a quarterly newsletter, Censorship News, as well as Books in Trouble, a summary of book-banning controversies, which is published as a part of NCAC’s special program on countering censorship in schools and libraries. The NCAC also runs the crowdsourced database of censorship cases concerning culture and the arts, Censorpedia. The NCAC helps to organize state and local coalitions against censorship and sponsors meetings and conferences for discussion of current First Amendment issues. It monitors legislation with First Amendment ramifications. The NCAC compiles information packets on First Amendment issues, including creationism, feminism, women and pornography, government secrecy, Black literature, and educational material selection guidelines. Its primary programs include the Kids’ Right to Read Project, the Youth Free Expression Program, the Free Expression Network, and the Arts & Culture Advocacy Program.

In 2025, the NCAC launched the Right to Read Network, a grassroots initiative that helps communities mobilize against book bans. That same year, it introduced Right to Read Night during Banned Books Week. This community-centered event is designed to highlight threatened works and foster public discussion about censorship.


Bibliography

"About Us." National Coalition Against Censorship, ncac.org/about-us. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.

"The Coalition." National Coalition Against Censorship, ncac.org/about-us/coalition. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.

Eastman, Cari Lee Skogberg. Free Speech and Censorship. ABC-CLIO, LLC., 2022.

Hudson, Jr., David L. "National Coalition against Censorship." Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, 16 June 2025, firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/national-coalition-against-censorship. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.

“New 'Right to Read Night' Event Planning Resources from NCAC.” Unite Against Book Bans, uniteagainstbookbans.org/new-right-to-read-night-event-planning-resources-from-ncac. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.

Full Article

  • FOUNDED: 1974
  • TYPE OF ORGANIZATION: Federation of American anti-censorship organizations

SIGNIFICANCE: The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) has promoted and defended First Amendment rights on both national and local levels.

The NCAC is a loose association of over fifty national, nonprofit organizations that have a stake in First Amendment rights. Some of the participating organizations are the American Jewish Congress, the American Library Association, Planned Parenthood of America, and the Screen Actors Guild. The NCAC works for this wide array of organizations as their anti-censorship program. The organizations involved either do not have an anti-censorship program of their own or they work with and contribute to the NCAC as part of their First Amendment activities.

The NCAC works toward disseminating information about current censorship practices in the United States. It runs education programs for its participating organizations on how to deal with censorship. It publishes a quarterly newsletter, Censorship News, as well as Books in Trouble, a summary of book-banning controversies, which is published as a part of NCAC’s special program on countering censorship in schools and libraries. The NCAC also runs the crowdsourced database of censorship cases concerning culture and the arts, Censorpedia. The NCAC helps to organize state and local coalitions against censorship and sponsors meetings and conferences for discussion of current First Amendment issues. It monitors legislation with First Amendment ramifications. The NCAC compiles information packets on First Amendment issues, including creationism, feminism, women and pornography, government secrecy, Black literature, and educational material selection guidelines. Its primary programs include the Kids’ Right to Read Project, the Youth Free Expression Program, the Free Expression Network, and the Arts & Culture Advocacy Program.

In 2025, the NCAC launched the Right to Read Network, a grassroots initiative that helps communities mobilize against book bans. That same year, it introduced Right to Read Night during Banned Books Week. This community-centered event is designed to highlight threatened works and foster public discussion about censorship.


Bibliography

"About Us." National Coalition Against Censorship, ncac.org/about-us. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.

"The Coalition." National Coalition Against Censorship, ncac.org/about-us/coalition. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.

Eastman, Cari Lee Skogberg. Free Speech and Censorship. ABC-CLIO, LLC., 2022.

Hudson, Jr., David L. "National Coalition against Censorship." Free Speech Center at Middle Tennessee State University, 16 June 2025, firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/national-coalition-against-censorship. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.

“New 'Right to Read Night' Event Planning Resources from NCAC.” Unite Against Book Bans, uniteagainstbookbans.org/new-right-to-read-night-event-planning-resources-from-ncac. Accessed 30 Aug. 2025.

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