Civic Engagement

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On this page you will find resources to help you become civically engaged, including support for those who would like organize a protest, communicate with legislators, write representatives, city council members, or school administrators,  and even mount a school board campaign. Start here if you are ready to round up fellow parents, caregivers, and other community members and get organized!

Legal News

PEN America v. Escambia County School District - "PEN America, Penguin Random House, and a diverse group of authors joined with parents and students in Escambia County, Florida, to file a federal lawsuit challenging removals and restrictions of books from school libraries that violate their rights to free speech and equal protection under the law." Why is PRH a Plaintiff? As the world’s largest trade book publisher, Penguin Random House is resolute in its commitment to free expression and protecting the freedom to read. With a mission to create books for everyone, more than 300 imprints, 16,000+ new titles published annually, and brands on six continents, Penguin Random House is home to diverse stories with wide-spanning perspectives and supports their authors in reaching as many readers as possible. Penguin Random House comprises adult and children’s fiction and nonfiction print and digital English- German- and Spanish-language trade book publishing businesses in more than 20 countries worldwide. With more than 700 million print, audio and eBooks sold annually, Penguin Random House’s publishing lists include more than 80 Nobel Prize laureates, numerous Newbery and Caldecott awards, and many of the world’s most widely read authors. Penguin Random House publishes hundreds of authors with banned or challenged books, including plaintiffs in the lawsuit: David Levithan, Kyle Lukoff and Ashley Hope Perez; as well as the late Toni Morrison, who was also targeted in Escambia County’s bans.

Support the Right to Read Act

Contact your representative today and ask them to support the Right to Read Act! Materials to help you share information on this proposed federal legislation:

Community Organizing, Advocacy, and Activism

Watch Out!

The following Censorship Group Database records organizations across the country that have come together to attack intellectual freedom, and the freedom to read. Despite any spin the groups use to describe themselves, their main target is book banning through censorship. If you know of an organization (whether local, state, or national) that you do not see on this database, please submit it to Kelly Jensen at Bookriot by using THIS LINK.

Guides, Scripts, Messaging, and Communication

Determining How You Would Like to Be Involved

State Legislative Action Tracker

We are tracking legislative actions by state in the spreadsheet below. If you have a legislative action you would like for us to include, please submit it using the State Legislative Action Google Form.

Other Bill Tracker tools available include: a) FastDemocracy, a tool available both in a free and paid version, that allows you to track bills using filters to narrow your results;  b) EveryLibrary Legislation of Concern, a list of bills by state that negatively impact libraries and library systems; and c) EveryLibrary Good News Legislation, a list of bills by state that positively impact libraries and library systems.

Red, Wine & Blue also maintains a detailed book ban tracker, including a button for submitting information you would like to share.

State Legislative Action Tracker

Key National Organizations and Efforts 

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