Banned Bookmobile Tour Stops in D.C. to Fight Censorship
Educators, authors and students convene to address censorship crisis
WHO:
Richard Reyes-Gavilan, Executive Director DC Public Library
Nijma Esad, Manager, Library Programs, DC Public Schools
Jacqueline Pogue Lyons, President, Washington Teacher's Union
Kyle Zimmer, Founder, First Book
Michael Tomasky, Editor, The New Republic
Elizabeth Acevedo, Award-winning Author and Educator
Students from DC Public High schools
WHAT:
Address the ongoing battle against book censorship in American school and public libraries.
WHEN:
Wednesday, Oct. 4, 1:00 PM
WHERE:
Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St. NW, Washington, D.C.
(Washington, DC) - Book banning is a controversy that's ignited debates across the nation. In fact, the American Library Association recorded 1,269 challenges in 2022, nearly double from the previous year. These challenges targeted a record 2,571 unique titles, up 38% from 2021. 58% of these targeted school materials, while 41% were aimed at public libraries.
On Wednesday, experts and education leaders will convene at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in Washington, D.C., to discuss the ramifications of this hot-button issue. They will also reveal data that details how book banning harms educators ability to teach effectively and students ability to learn from a wide variety of information.
The visit is part of the D.C. leg of the Banned Bookmobile Tour 2023, a national initiative spearheaded by The New Republic in collaboration with the American Federation of Teachers, the African American Policy Forum, and bestselling author Nora Roberts. This month-long tour aims to tackle rampant book censorship and advocate for America's freedom to read.
In a focal discussion, Elizabeth Acevedo, an award-winning author whose work has faced bans, will join Jacqueline Pogue Lyons and high school students to explore the real-world impact of banning books. Acevedo's book, "The Poet X," has been banned for its themes of sexuality and alternate beliefs, highlighting the urgent need for open dialogues about censorship. Following the discussion, the Banned Bookmobile Tour will give away free books and information on banned books.
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The American Federation of Teachers
The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, health care and public services for our students, their families, and our communities. To learn more about AFT’s work and AFT’s Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign, visit AFT.org.
Banned Books Week
Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores, and libraries. The annual event highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community — librarians, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and readers of all types — in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.
The African American Policy Forum
The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) is an innovative and intersectional think tank which launched the From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers: Books Unbanned campaign in October 2022 to increase critical literacy, voter engagement, and understanding of how the suppression of knowledge renders us unable to confront inequality. Visit aapf.org/truthbetold for more information.
Bookshop.org
Bookshop.org works to connect readers with independent booksellers all over the world. We believe local bookstores are essential community hubs that foster culture, curiosity, and a love of reading, and we're committed to helping them thrive.
House of SpeakEasy
SpeakEasy is dedicated to the idea that literature matters and that the essence of literary culture is the relationship between writers and their readers. On stage. In schools. On the road. We believe that book ownership should be a right, not a privilege.
Urban Libraries Council
The Urban Libraries Council has spent 50 years enriching communities by strengthening and promoting the value of libraries as essential public assets.
Join The New Republic on this groundbreaking journey as we embark on the Banned Books Tour 2023. Together, we will protect and celebrate the power of literature and the freedom to read.
About The New Republic
The New Republic is one of America's most influential political and cultural media brands, shaping the national conversation for more than a century. It has been called "the most entertaining and intellectually agile magazine in the country" and "must reading for thought leaders." On multiple platforms, including print, digital, and live events, The New Republic presents newsmaking original reporting and incisive commentary on the most critical issues in U.S. politics, foreign affairs, business, technology, and the arts. Today, The New Republic's vigorous defense of liberal democracy and its robust tradition of lively civic engagement are more crucial than ever in a dangerous and rapidly changing world.
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