CANCELED, CENSORED, BANNED
Co-Hosted by American Public Square, Kansas City PBS and the National WWI Museum and Memorial
March 21, 2023
A GROWING RELUCTANCE TO TOLERATE DIVERGENT VIEWPOINTS
From city and state legislative efforts to control content in public libraries to local universities blocking conservative speakers on campus, “Canceled, Censored, Banned” picked apart our growing reluctance to tolerate divergent viewpoints and to silence voices we disagree with.
Kansas City PBS, the National WWI Museum and Memorial and American Public Square at Jewell partnered to offer this citizen engagement event featuring a wide-ranging panel of politicians, educators and thought leaders.
Panelists included:
- Missouri Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft
- Executive director – ACLU Kansas, Micah Kubic
- Business owner and longtime conservative political advisor, Sally Bradshaw
- Author and journalist, Michael Ryan
The moderated discussion was by Nick Haines of Kansas City PBS. Vicki Camacho of Flatland KC served as the program's Roving Reporter. The event was hosted at The National World War I Museum and Memorial.
During the one-hour program, panelists deliberated on the topic of censorship, including Missouri's attempt to restrict library content and controversies surrounding conservative speakers on college campuses.
The conversation delved into the balance between protecting vulnerable audiences and upholding free speech rights, touching on issues of government censorship, campus protests, and the role of private companies in content moderation. The conversation took a particular emphasis on a legislative rule proposed by Missouri Secretary of State, Jay Ashcroft. Panelists debated, at length, the intent of the rule and the risk of unintended consequences.
Despite considerable differences of opinions, all panelists supported the value of civil debate, parental rights, and the importance of preserving free speech in society.
The March program "Canceled, Censored, Banned" broadcast as a Kansas City Week in Review special on Friday, April 7, 2023; it was subsequently available for ongoing streaming through KC PBS' digital channels.
PROGRAM FACT SHEET
Developed through support from The William T. Kemper Foundation.
KC MEDIA COLLECTIVE COVERAGE
"This Kansas City author saw his children’s books get banned. He’s not giving up" by Mary Sanchez, Flatland KC
"‘Canceled, Censored, Banned’ Sparks Questions About Government, Books and Public Libraries" by Vicki Diaz-Camacho, Flatland KC
