The ACLU of Texas, along with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC), has strongly criticized the Fort Worth Police Department for confiscating photographs from an art exhibit at the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth.
The Dallas Express previously visited the museum and saw several pictures featuring exposed children. One photo showed a nude girl jumping on top of a table. Another depicted a naked boy with an unknown liquid substance and his genitals exposed.
Police seized several photographs by artist Sally Mann from the Diaries from Home exhibit last month following complaints.
The ACLU and its partners argue that the seizure constitutes unconstitutional censorship and a violation of First Amendment rights. In a letter dated February 19, 2025, they demanded the immediate return of the artwork and an end to the investigation.
The letter claims that Mann’s work has never been legally classified as obscene and that the confiscation sets a dangerous precedent for artistic freedom.
The Fort Worth Police Department has not yet provided updates on the investigation or indicated whether the photographs will be returned. The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth has declined to comment beyond acknowledging the inquiry.
