Charles Brownstein believes that the value of free speech in the U.S. is being questioned, in part because of a polarized social climate.
The chair of the national Banned Books Week Coalition and immediate past president of the Freedom to Read Foundation will discuss his views from 4 to 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 24, at University of Wisconsin-Stout.
The event, free and open to the public, will be held on second floor north of the Robert S. Swanson Library and Learning Center. Parking in many UW-Stout lots is free after 4 p.m.
National Banned Books Week is Sept. 22-28, celebrating the freedom to read. This year’s theme is Censorship Leaves Us in the Dark.
Brownstein will present, “The Power to Inspire: Comics, Community and the Future of Intellectual Freedom.”
He also is executive director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, a nonprofit organization providing first amendment legal aid, advocacy and education. His talk will draw on his experiences defending comics and graphic novels to discuss the role of free speech in creating a culture of empathy, respect, curiosity and intellectual freedom.
The event will include responses from Lopa Basu, a professor in the English and philosophy department, and Cory Mitchell, university collection development librarian.
Brownstein’s presentation is being sponsored by the Center for the Study of Institutions and Innovation at UW-Stout, which recently hosted a Constitution Day speaker and will hold Free Speech Week events from Monday, Oct. 21, to Thursday, Oct. 24, along with other programs this fall.
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Charles Brownstein
