ACLU Protests 'Hasty' Censure

ACLU Protests
'Hasty' Censure
The Ann Arbor-Washtenaw
County branch of the American
Civil Liberties Union criticized
seizure of a film being shown
on the University campus after
only part of it was screened.

A statement issued by Robert
S. Friedman, chairman of the
ACLU branch's executive
board, said the organization
"deplores the precipitous ac-
tion of the county prosecutor
and the police in stopping the
showing and confiscating the
film 'Flaming Creatures.'

"It is impossible to make
judgment regarding the alleged
Obscenity of the film on the ba-
sis W tjae showing of only 10
miTW\.w/S>9ftthis picture. The
'courts havffjteldthat the soci-
ally redeeming ^uWities of an
artistic work outw^ij^ charges
of obscenity brought a'gainst in- -
dividual portions of the work.

"Equally important is the in-
terference with the opportunity
of the University community to
make its own judgments re-
sgarding recent developments in
Jthe field of experimental film
making. We do not permit en-

i-oachments upon the right of
.individuals to exp'T^" new
'ideas, no matter ho' ive,
in fields such as literaiine, the-
ology, or economics. We are
similarly bound to protect the
rights of individuals interested
in the visual arts.

' "Irrespective of the quality
; of the film in question, the ac-
tion taken in denying to the
I Cinema Guild audience the
I right to see a full showing of
„ 'Flaming Creatures' represent-
j ed an intrusion upon First
Amendment rights."