For further information, contact:
Chris Finan, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, (212) 587-4025

For Immediate Release

NEW YORK, NY, July 16, 2003–Six national free expression groups today demanded that the All-American Soap Box Derby cease efforts to censor a new history of the Derby, Champions, Cheaters and Childhood Dreams: Memories of the All-American Soap Box Derby, by Melanie Payne. In a letter to Roy Hartz, the chairman of the Derby’s board of trustees, the groups charged that at least one Derby official had attempted to pressure the publisher of the book, the University of Akron Press, to make changes in its title and contents. In addition, Derby officials are now reportedly refusing to permit the book to be sold at the national championship in Akron on July 26.

“One of the major purposes of the All-American Soap Box Derby is to demonstrate to young people the importance of ‘the spirit of competition.’ We urge the Derby to set an example for its contestants by demonstrating a tolerance for the competition of ideas,” the letter said. It was signed by the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, the Center for First Amendment Rights, Feminists for Free Expression, the Freedom to Read Foundation, the National Coalition Against Censorship, the Office for Intellectual Freedom of the American Library Association, and PEN American Center.

The controversy began in December when Derby officials learned that Ms. Payne’s book would contain a discussion of cheating by a number of contestants over the years as well as other potentially unflattering information. Ms. Payne says that Robert Troyer, the Derby publicity director, told her that the Derby would no longer assist her and would not give her permission to use official photos of the event.

Later in the month, officials at the University of Akron Press learned that at least one Derby official had lobbied university officials in an effort to change the book. On Dec. 13, the Press’ editorial board adopted a resolution taking note of the efforts to censor Champions, Cheaters and Childhood Dreams and affirming its intention of publishing the manuscript without changes.

The Derby’s efforts to interfere in the publication of Champions, Cheaters and Childhood Dreams are apparently continuing. In a potentially crippling blow to the marketing plans for the book, Derby officials have reportedly told Ms. Payne’s publisher that it will not be allowed to rent a booth at Derby Downs, the site of the national championship, where it had hoped to sell the book. A Derby official has reportedly attempted to prevent the sale of the book at an adjacent site as well.

A copy of the letter is available online at: http://www.freeexpression.org/newswire/soapboxderby.htm