The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) will honor Caroline Hirsch, founder and owner of Carolines on Broadway and a co-founding partner of the New York Comedy Festival, for her unwavering support of free expression and artistic freedom through comedy at its annual Celebration of Free Speech & Its Defenders Tuesday, October 21st.
“Freedom of expression is one of the cornerstones of what makes this such a great country,” Hirsch says. “Comedy cannot survive intrusion by and interference from the government. Comedy often pokes fun, exposes hypocrisy, and confronts cultural taboos. One has only to remember the experiences of Lenny Bruce, George Carlin, Bill Maher and others, to appreciate how vulnerable comedians are to government pressure. I’m very proud to help protect the right of comedians – and others – to speak freely.”
Emmy award-winning comedian Judy Gold will present the award to Hirsch.
