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FEATURE PRESS SERV yar AParsor MRose AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION; 17O FIFTH AVENUE, NEW YORK Mr. Sizoo PATRICK Mr.Winter ERNEST ANGELL ARTHUR GARFIELD HAYS Tele.R Chalrman MORRIS L ERNST Mr.Hollom Soard of Directer ORegon 5-5900 Woekly Bulletin #1699 CENSORSHIP OF COiIC BOOKS OPPOSED ON CIVIL IBERTIES GROUNDS Censorship of comic books is an unconstitutional method of combatting the prob. lem of juvenile delinquency, the American Civil Liberties Union has stated.. The Union asserted in a policy statement filed with the Senate Judiciary Sub-. conmittee on Juvenile Delinquency that there is a wide variety of opinion as'to the. relationship between the reading of crime comics and delinquency and that "at this. time there has been no showing that the circulation of'crime comic books constitutes a clear and present danger." Unless such a danger is shown, the Acw said, "and there are inadequate alternative means to combat this evil, there is no justificatien for cutting_into_a basic right guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution, a free press un- hampered by goverrmental intarference. "The Acw understands the concern of American parents that their children are' their impressionable minds," the Union pointed out in its statement. But there is another danger that must be aqually considered - the danger of censorship... "To suppress books in the absence of a clear and present danger, even offensive. Amendment can lead to the undermining of our free institutions, which we want our.. children and their children to enjoy .and respect." The circulation of all books involves risk, the Aclu added, "but risk is an in delihle mark of democracy and a society of freedom." In place of censorship, the Union recommended parental control over the reading... habits of children, contimued work by school, religious, and community groups to. lessen delinquency, additional study of the relation between juvenile delinquency and every legitimate effort must be made to deal with its causes"and'to'stek its cure, the statement said. "As an organization concerned with the welfare of'the American we are amxioue commnity, and as parents concerned with the welfare of. our children, that this alarming problem be solved. dhilo asserting that it was not its function'to pass'on the merits of the ex may lay an important part in the development of children's minds and behavior.But qualified persons, it helieves there is lacking.the assurance that.crime comics are a s'enificant cause of delinquency. .... The Union considered point by point various proposals for censoring.. camic books It emphasized that censorship couid not be imposed for children alone,. not only,be- tial pre-censorship would be to invite a spreading of censorship to other reading t materials. nTo institutionalize the censor and his scissors'is a real danger.. ing the climate needed to nurture free thought.and expression. the minds offree men." 000910 REGULAR ERVICE. FURTHER INFORMATION