NCAC’S mission is to promote freedom of thought, inquiry and expression and oppose censorship in all its forms.

What We Do

• Assist students, teachers, librarians, parents and others opposing censorship in schools and libraries

• Work with artists, curators and museum directors resisting art censorship

• Inform public officials, the media, and the general public about First Amendment rights and obligations

• Advocate for public policies and laws that respect First Amendment rights and principles

• Educate young people about the First Amendment and the importance of free expression

• Engage with a nationwide network of activists and support local activism

• Identify and analyze censorship trends and develop new strategies to promote free speech rights

The Coalition formed in response to the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Miller v. California, which narrowed First Amendment protections for sexual expression and opened the door to obscenity prosecutions. For over 45 years, as an alliance of more than 50 national non-profits, we have engaged in direct advocacy and education to support First Amendment principles. NCAC is unique in that we are national in scope, but often local in our approach. We work with community members to resolve censorship controversies without the need for litigation.