By Maggie Tokuda-Hall, a national leader with Authors Against Book Bans, a Unite Against Book Bans partner
Authors Against Book Bans is a nationally led coalition of writers, illustrators, anthology editors and contributors, and other book creators who stand united against the deeply unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read. Our organization is locally involved in the fight against book bans through a growing network of grassroots chapters—and it’s with great pride that we can report on two of our recent success stories.
Books Returned to the Shelves in Florida
In St. Johns County, Florida, six books were returned to the shelves after being challenged numerous times—and found appropriate numerous times by third-party committees—after AABB members in New York and Washington state wrote letters of concern to the local school board. Our members wrote letters from out of state, because when we talked to the grassroots organizers in the affected community, they warned us that the Proud Boys presence was so constant at school board meetings that we could not send our local representatives there due to fear for their safety. After receiving a deluge of anti-censorship missives from concerned creatives, the school board decided to keep the books on the shelves.
Freedom to Read Bill Unites Supporters in Rhode Island
And in Rhode Island, the local AABB chapter has been hard at work on S0238, which if passed, will be the most comprehensive freedom to read bill in the nation. Chapter leaders Jeanette Bradley and Padma Venkatraman have been building a coalition that goes beyond libraries to include parents, authors, illustrators, youth activists and advocates, teachers, mental health advocates, publishers, law associations, faith-based coalitions, booksellers, and other First Amendment advocates in support of the bill. Testimony for S0238 will be heard this week in the statehouse. Regardless of the outcome, the coalition building efforts led by AABB Rhode Island will stand as a bulwark against censorship in days ahead.
What is wonderful about both these stories is that these actions were not taken at great expense, nor with the involvement of major organizations. These were efforts made by regular people who cared enough to do something. Before AABB’s involvement in the Florida school district case, it was a foregone conclusion those books would be removed. In Rhode Island, AABB chapter leaders’ passion ignited a groundswell of support for the freedom to read.
None of us have to wait to get involved. We all have the power to use our voices to protect our freedom to read. And when we do? The success stories start pouring in. Book bans are wildly unpopular with the American people, and according to the ALA, 71% of voters disapprove of them. We all have so much power in this fight. Let’s use it.
If your name has ever been printed in a book as a credit to its creators, AABB invites you to get involved. Writers, illustrators, narrators, translators—all the people who create literature—are invited to join. AABB is genre-agnostic and open to traditionally and independently published creators. Learn more by visiting the AABB website.
