Rhode Island Authors Against Book Bans

08/16/2025

Come join the fun!

We are at North Kingstown Public Library for Books and Belonging - our inclusive storytime with community readers. Here Samantha Bernard, a striking Bulter healthcare worker reads YOUR ONE AND ONLY HEART by Rajani LaRocca. Come join us until 12:30!

07/27/2025

We are collaborating with other RI Freedom to Read coalition members and community groups on this event. Save the date!

07/17/2025

Rhode Island was founded by people censored, imprisoned & exiled by the Massachusetts Colony for their writings and speech. RI AABB and RI Freedom to Read are thrilled to pass the baton for the fight to protect freedom of expression to MA - Authors Against Book Bans and the Mass coalition. Roger Williams would be proud!

Mass Freedom to Read is a new coalition of organizations that represents Massachusetts authors and illustrators, libraries, booksellers, and publishers. We believe that freedom of expression, including the freedom to read, is a fundamental American right, protected by the First Amendment.

In the United States, we have the right to access books with a wide range of information and perspectives. We have the right to freely express our own ideas through speech, writing, and art.

In MA, challenges to library collections, programs, and displays have more than doubled in over the last three years. MA authors and creators have had their work banned or challenged in dozens of states, and in MA itself. MA booksellers have faced harassment and intimidation at their events.

Parents have the right to guide their own children's reading, but parents should not dictate what other people's children are allowed to read. In MA, with our deep and valued history of patriotism, we know that censorship is the opposite of a patriotic act.

Now is the time for the MA state legislature to pass a comprehensive Freedom to Read bill that protects librarians and educators from harassment for doing their jobs; and protects authors, creators, booksellers, and publishers from economic harm due to censorship.

If you support freedom of expression and the freedom to read, join us in supporting the passage of An Act Regarding Free Expression (H.3594/S.2328) by signing up at massachusetts [at] authorsagainstbookbans [dot] com.

Coalition Members:
American Booksellers for Free Expression - ABFE
Authors Against Book Bans Massachusetts
Beacon Press
Candlewick Press
Charlesbridge Publishing
Massachusetts Library Association
Crow
Penguin Random House

07/16/2025

Welcoming Publishing Professionals Against Book Bans (PPABB) to the fight to protect freedom of expression and freedom
of the press!

07/03/2025

Celebrating the good! Freedom to Read Coalition members and bill sponsors Mark McKenney & Jennifer Stewart For State Representative District 59 gathered tonight to take a moment to celebrate the bill becoming law. Rhode Island is now a Freedom to Read state!

07/02/2025

Today the Rhode Island Freedom to Read Act becomes law. We are so proud of the safe harbor we have created in the Ocean State for librarians, creators, students, and readers. Our Act is the first in the U.S. to encode standing for authors as parties harmed by censorship. THANK YOU ALL! ⚓️❤️📚

06/27/2025

Deeply disappointed in the Supreme Court

The Supreme Court ruling today mandating “opt outs” for children whose parents object to LGBTQ+-relevant picture books in public schools deals a “deeply disappointing” blow to the right to read under the First Amendment, PEN America said. The free expression and writers group called the land...

06/27/2025

Georgia Librarian fired for including WHEN AIDEN BECAME A BROTHER in a book display titled “Color Our World,” featuring diverse kids’ books.

Lavonnia Moore said she was fired after the community helped her assemble a book display at the Pierce County Public Library. Southeast Georgia librarian fired after creating book display featuring transgender character.

06/25/2025

06/23/2025

AABB-RI co-chair Jeanette Bradley was on WGBH’s Under the Radar with Callie Crossley tonight as part of a round table discussion about the impact of censorship on authors. If you missed it live, stream it here (The whole series is great, incorporates many perspectives!)

The organization brings together authors from all genres and for all ages in support of the freedom to read.