IGN
Andrew Goldfarb | January 2, 2013

Southington, Connecticut is seeking to collect and destroy violent games. A new initiative called the Violent Video Games Return Program is offering citizens a $25 gift certificate in exchange for their violent games. According to Polygon, the collected games will then be “snapped, tossed into a town dumpster and likely later incinerated.” The event is organized by the SouthingtonSOS, which includes members of “the Chamber of Commerce, YMCA, board of education, fire department, town officials, United Way and local clergy.” Violent movies and music will also be accepted.

Read on…

UPDATE:
“CT Town Schedules, then Cancels Good Ole Fashioned Video Game Burning” (NCAC Blog | January 9, 2013)

THE COURANT
Vanessa De La Torre | October 16, 2011

Before the afternoon ended, a parent had stormed into the Hartford Public High School main office with a Bible, pointing out sections that condemn homosexuality as a sin.

A couple of others had taken their teenage children out of school early. Adam Johnson, principal of Hartford High’s Law and Government Academy, said his office phone was ringing. A lot.

The commotion started in the school auditorium sometime after 1 p.m. Friday.

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NEWSTIMES.COM
Stacy Davis | October 6, 2011

One week after National Banned Book week, some Brookfield residents told the Board of Education a novel should be taken out of the Brookfield High School curriculum.

The book is the “The Bluest Eye,” by Toni Morrison, a Nobel and Pulitzer prize-winning author.

“I read two sentences and my jaw dropped,” Pamela Kurtz said. Kurtz, a member of the A Brookfield Party, is running for a seat on the Board of Education in the November election.

Kurtz said she did not read the book in its entirety, but saw excerpts from the novel printed on a sheet of paper and distributed throughout the community. The sheet included three sex scenes and profanity. One of the sex scenes was notated as “Rape of his daughter.”

Kurtz said she is concerned about the age appropriateness of the book.

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UPDATE:
NewsTimes.com
Stacy Davis | October 20, 2011

Eighteen-year-old Zoe Miller was among students and parents who took a stand in favor of Toni Morrison’s novel “The Bluest Eye” in front of the school board.

“Why should we ban these books from a high school with students old enough to drive, see R-rated movies legally and buy cigarettes?” Miller, a senior, asked during the public participation portion of the board’s meeting Wednesday.

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THE REGISTER CITIZEN
Ricky Campbell | March 23, 2011

Dr. Mazin B. Qumsiyeh brings his book tour to town Thursday, but his controversial discussion topic will be met with opposition from the local Jewish community.

Dr. Qumsiyeh, also a professor at Bethlehem and Birzeit Universities in occupied Palestine, will speak on “A History of Hope and Empowerment in Palestine” at the Oliver Wolcott Library.

According to Dr. Qumsiyeh’s website, his new book, “Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment”, addresses his ideals on human rights in Palestine, media activism, public policies and popular, non-violent resistance.

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Related articles and editorials:
Editorial: Israel, Litchfield and free speech: Library is right

Litchfield Lecture Fuels Debate About Anti-Semitism

Litchfield Lecture That Upset Rabbi Takes Place Without Incident

Human rights author presents book talk at Oliver Wolcott Library in Litchfield