CARTOONISTS RIGHTS - support them on Giving Tuesday

SUPPORT CARTOONISTS RIGHTS, MARKING TWENTY-FIVE YEARS IN THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION

 by Terry Anderson

Almost a decade ago, cartoonists everywhere were alerted to an unfolding event in the city of Paris, France. There aren’t that many in the profession, so everyone has a friend (or at least a friend of a friend) in France. Via social media posts and text messages on the morning of January 7^th, 2015, it became apparent that something had happened at the office of Charlie Hebdo magazine. By the end of the day, it was known that twelve people, among them five of France’s best-known cartoonists, were dead. Within a week, crowds of a size not seen in the post-war period had gathered in Paris and world-leaders walked arm-in-arm, declaring their commitment to free expression.

 

As we approach the tenth anniversary of that day, much has changed. France indelibly so – cartoonists’ events there still take place under armed guard – while the rest of the world has either qualified or largely forgotten the spirit of “Je Suis Charlie”. Free speech has become a political football, and a favored hobby horse of authoritarians and populists.  When asked, cartoonists no longer cite the violence of rogue fundamentalists as their chief concern. Indeed, it's now those chummy world leaders who made a conspicuous showing of solidarity on Parisian streets whom they’re most worried about.

 

Increasingly, editorial and political cartoonists are abused and threatened online by party-politically motivated trolls, often en masse. They are criminalized under vaguely worded cyber security or anti-misinformation laws, jailed for “insulting” the government, judiciary, or army, and in the worst cases labelled seditionists and terrorists. For many, their only choice is to go into exile.

 

Cartoonists Rights Network International (or CARTOONISTS RIGHTS for short) was incorporated in 1999, the world’s first human rights non-profit with such cartoonists in mind. Founded by Dr. Robert “Bro” Russell, a resident of Virginia, over the last five years the organization’s program has been led by Executive Director Terry Anderson. Currently our president is Matt Wuerker (Politico). Other press cartoonists who currently or in the past have served as directors or advisors include Michael de Adder, Kevin “Kal” Kallaugher, Marc Murphy, Pat Oliphant, Joel Pett, and Ann Telnaes, as well as Dr. John A. Lent, founder of the IJOCA.

 

Like all non-profits, CARTOONISTS RIGHTS is now operating in a uniquely hostile environment. The passage of bill H.R. 9495 from House of Representatives to the Senate brings the Presidency one step closer to sweeping powers to penalize civil and human rights organizations.

Nevertheless, should any cartoonist in the USA be characterized as an “enemy within” during the next four years, they can expect the same level of commitment from us that we have extended to cartoonists from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, and Central and South America in the last quarter-century.

 

Last year, we welcomed Abecor – a press cartoonist from Bolivia – to the National Press Club to receive the Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award after he had been harassed online and in person, and he and his family threatened with violence by partisans.

“For me and for my country this award is very important, since it renews the sense of preserving the right to free expression and knowing that artists, journalists and especially cartoonists around the world do not walk alone.” – Abecor

 

In recent years our award has been given in an alternating pattern with the FREEDOM CARTOONISTS FOUNDATION, Geneva. And so, in 2025 it falls to us once more to recognize a cartoonist whose bravery has exemplified adherence to democratic ideals and the principle of free expression under duress. The event will take place at a Washington, DC venue on May 3^rd – World Press Freedom Day. More details to be announced nearer the time.

 

To support CARTOONISTS RIGHTS, please consider contributing during our Pledge Drive, commencing on “Giving Tuesday”, December 3^rd.

 

Visit cartoonistsrights.org/donate and keep an eye on our social media for further announcements through the next three weeks: Bluesky – @cartoonistsrights.org • Facebook/Instagram – @cartoonistsrights • Mastodon – @cartooniststrights@newsie.social

 

Walt Ditzen safety PSAs from 1955

 I ran across these two National Safety Council cartoons by Walt Ditzen in a scanned copy of the Navy Medical Center San Diego newspaper Dry Dock. The 'resume speed' cartoon is from Sept. 22, 1950, and "traffic is unusually heavy today" is from Sept. 8, 1950.

More spot illos from CHAD-

As in the previous post about CHAD-, which helped identify him as Chad Grothkopf, these are from a newspaper held in the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery's archives, here in Falls Church. The run is being digitized and put online in the Medical Heritage Library.

These are from the US Naval Hospital Memphis' newspaper The Hospital Clipper from 1972-1973.

Guess the artist, courtesy of Matt Dembicki

From Matt Dembicki: Saw this at a Famous Dave's BBQ restaurant in Oakton, Va.

Oooh, nice. Me want.

Give me some old school PSAs

PSA's (aka Public Service Announcements) still exist, but are probably not as noticable to most in our media saturated environment.  As you might expect, cartoonists and cartoon characters are often a part of them. Of course, they also serve as an advertisement for the cartoon itself. Here's a current one that I walked past for a couple of months (excuse the cell phone quality):



This Blondie panel from 1970 was in a newspaper in the National Museum of Health and Medicine:



These comics of the Pink Panther, Blondie, Beetle Bailey, and Mutt & Jeff all come from Navy medical newspapers or newsletters.











Speaking of Mutt and Jeff, cartoonist Al Smith drew it for about 50 years. Here he is entertaining patients at a 1971 visit to Bethesda's National Naval Medical Center.



Caricaturist Jack Rosen visited Naval Hospital Orlando in 1979.



Of course, sometimes an ad is just an ad. This US Postal Service Mover's Guide Official Change of Address Kit, January 2013, has a Disney advertisement, and is available right now from your local post office.



These are minor footnotes in a larger history of comics, but hopefully enterained you briefly.