Confessions of a Mad Librarian

From Neil Gaimain's blog:

... Michael Chabon just wrote to let me know that the First Amendment Project is financially out on the edge...

I'm on the board of the First Amendment Project. It's a nonprofit advocacy organization that among other functions provides legal counsel to writers, artists, journalists and others facing prosecution on first amendment grounds--an organization "dedicated to protecting and promoting freedom of information, expression, and petition." Recently the Project represented the teenager, George T., who was prosecuted AND CONVICTED on criminal charges in California for writing violent poems. The appeals court overturned the conviction.

The Project is also planning a campaign to combat and remedy the shocking deficit of respect for and understanding of First Amendment issues revealed by that recent Knight-Ridder poll of American young people.

They're also about to run out of money. They went broke defending a San Diego environmental activist who was sued by a huge real estate developer for petitioning to protect bald eagles. The plaintiffs tried--and failed--to sue her under RICO (federal anti-racketeering!) laws!

TFAP won the court battle but it was a classic Pyrrhic victory. One more like that and they are lost.

They need money.

There is so much to care about and we face so many demands for our time, attention, and money. I know. But the First Amendment... it all starts there, doesn't it? It seems to me that there's really no point to anything else without that basic guarantee.

If you could manage to contribute even just a little, it would make a difference. I hope you will. And I'll hope you'll forgive this importunate but timely plea.

You can make a donation just by clicking here or entering https://secure.groundspring.org/dn/index.php?aid=4512 in your browser.

Thanks.

MC