The Wait is Over: Announcing the 2012 Jefferson Muzzles!
For the 21st consecutive year, the
Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has
awarded “Jefferson Muzzles” to those who in the previous year committed
particularly egregious or ridiculous affronts to free
expression. Located in Charlottesville, Virginia, the Center announces
the dubious honors each year on or near the April 13 birth date of its
namesake.
2012 Jefferson Muzzles
Okay, I will turn my head and cough, but don’t you dare ask me about my 357 Magnum.
The Florida Legislature and Florida Governor Rick Scott for passing the Firearm Owners’ Privacy Act, a law restricting what Florida physicians may say to their patients regarding guns and gun safety.You are cordially invited to the U.S. State Department Conference on Free Speech*
*The U.S. State Department reserves the right to exclude speech that conflicts with U.S. policy objectives, and to rescind the invitation of any invitee who expresses criticism of said policies or those of our allies.The U.S. State Department for rescinding the invitation to a Palestinian cartoonist to participate in a conference focusing on free speech because some of his cartoons were deemed to be anti-Semitic.
Houston, we have an expletive.
Sam Houston State University (Texas) Professor Joe Kirk and the University Police Department for their respective actions involving a temporary campus “free speech wall” on which students were invited to write whatever they wanted. Professor Kirk literally cut the “F-word” from the wall where it was utilized to criticize President Obama. The university police then threatened to arrest any students who attempted to write the offending word again.“Don’t get strung out by the way I look. Don’t judge a book by its cover.” – Dr. Frank-N-Furter
Mayor Wayne Garner of Carrollton, Georgia for unilaterally canceling a previously-approved community theater production of The Rocky Horror Show at a publicly-owned venue. The show was in rehearsal when a cast member posted a video clip on his personal Facebook page. When the Mayor saw the clip, he canceled the already advertised production.I’m NOT ready for my close-up, Mr. DeMille.
The Norfolk Virginia Police Department for arresting and prosecuting a man for filming an on-duty police officer sitting in his car, claiming the man had to have the officer’s permission.Tuition: $25,160.
Student parking fee: $100.
Not having to park because you got banned from campus: Priceless.
The Administration of Catawba Valley Community College in North Carolina for banning a student from campus after he criticized via Facebook the school’s partnership with Higher One Financial Services and the aggressive marketing of a CVCC branded Debit Mastercard.What is it with witches and towns named Salem?
Salem, Missouri Public Library’s Board of Trustees for using filtering software on library computers that classified many non-mainstream religious websites as “occult” or “criminal,” thereby blocking access to the sites.Putting the MO in homophobia.
Lake of the Ozarks Camdenton R-III School District in Missouri for using filtering software on school computers that blocked access to many websites advocating equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people while comparable anti-gay websites were not blocked.And, for the third time in the 21 year history of the Muzzles, a “Lifetime Achievement Muzzle” goes to…
The Virginia Department of Corrections for preventing an inmate from receiving a spoken word CD of works by Dylan Thomas because of a policy that permits only approved music and faith-based spoken word CDs. This is the third consecutive Muzzle for the VDOC, having previously been censured in 2010 for restricting access to religious spoken word CDs, and in 2011 for denying prisoners’ access to “The Jailhouse Lawyer’s Handbook,” a work detailing the legal rights of prisoners.Watch the music video that is sweeping the nation!
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