1955day.year
The American Civil Liberties Union announces it will defend Allen Ginsberg's book Howl against obscenity charges.
The ACLU announces it will defend Allen Ginsberg’s poem Howl against federal obscenity charges.
Ginsberg’s controversial poem Howl faced legal scrutiny for its candid language and themes.
On April 3, 1955, the American Civil Liberties Union stepped forward to represent publisher Lawrence Ferlinghetti.
ACLU attorneys argued that Howl held significant literary and social merit deserving First Amendment protection.
The case challenged existing censorship laws and sparked nationwide debate on free expression.
Ultimately, the defense helped establish greater freedom for publishers and artists in the United States.
The landmark ruling bolstered the ACLU’s role in defending free speech and set a precedent for future obscenity cases.
1955
American Civil Liberties Union
Allen Ginsberg
Howl
obscenity