7/29/2019 Persepolis Letter to Chicago Public Schools

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March 17, 2013Barbara Byrd-Bennett, CEO

Members of the Board of EducationChicago Public Schools125 South Clark StreetChicago, Illinois 60603

Dear Ms. Byrd-Bennett and School Board Members,

On behalf of the Kids Right to Read Project, we strongly urge you to reconsider the recentdecision to remove the award-winning and critically acclaimed graphic novelPersepolis from 7thto 10

thgrade classrooms in Chicago Public Schools.

Persepolis, Marjane Satrapis unique and affecting memoir of her childhood in Iran during the

Islamic Revolution, has been taught in many classes in the Chicago Public School district andacross the country. A work of great acclaim, School Library Journalcalled the book a graphicnovel of immense power and importance for Westerners of all ages.

While we are relieved that the book will remain available to older students, the restriction on

access for junior high school students is extremely troubling. The title character of Satrapis bookis herself the age of junior high school students, and her description of her real-life experiencesmight well have special relevance to them. The explanation that the book is inappropriate forthis age group is unpersuasive. The vast majority of Chicago middle school students are surelyaware of the reality of violence and its devastating effects on people of all ages. Most have

witnessed it on the news, if not in their own neighborhoods.

To remove this book because of objections to its content is impermissible under the First

Amendment. As the Supreme Court has said, the constitution does not permit officiallyprescribed orthodoxy which limits what people may read, think, speakor say. The fact that we

are confronted with images and not words does not make a differencethe courts have ruled thatimages, like words, are fully protected by the First Amendment

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions or comments.

Sincerely,

Joan BertinExecutive Director

National Coalition Against Censorship

Charles Brownstein

Executive DirectorComic Book Legal Defense Fund

7/29/2019 Persepolis Letter to Chicago Public Schools

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Chris FinanPresident

American Booksellers Foundation for FreeExpression

Larry SiemsDirector, Freedom to Write and InternationalPrograms

PEN American Center

Judith PlattDirector, Free Expression AdvocacyAssociation of American Publishers

Kent Williamson

Executive Director

National Council of Teachers of English

Lin Oliver

Executive Director

Society of Childrens Book Writers & Illustrators