Rhode Island Authors Against Book Bans

@aabbri.bsky.social

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The Bluesky home of Authors Against Book Bans Rhode Island , a coalition of book creators united against the deeply unconstitutional movement to limit the freedom to read. Learn more and join at https://www.authorsagainstbookbans.com/

Freedom to Read Postcard Happy Hour at Track 15 Friday, May 29, 5:30 - 7:00 PM Drop in, grab a drink or a snack and catch up with friends! We will be writing postcards to our Congresspeople about federal bills that threaten the freedom to read.
Postcard Party Saturday, May 16t 2:00 - 4:00 PM Gooseneck Vineyards Drop in and write a postcard to your reps urging them to oppose HR 7661, the federal book banning bill currently in the House. Authors Against Book Bans - Rhode Island
Why is this book banned?
Samantha Bernard reading Your One and Onky Heart
EPiC East Providence in Community Books & Belonging Community Story time Saturday, August 16 1:00 - 2:30 Weaver Library East Providence • Paint a community rock • Celebrate reading and community • Enjoy inclusive stories
Nicole Dyszlewski
Sen Mark McKenney
Rep David Morales
RI Governor Dan McKee
RI Senate President Lawson stands at a podium with “Freedom to Read” and the RI seal on it
RI Speaker of the House Joe Shekarchi stands at a podium with a “Freedom to Read” sign
We are ALL READERS presents: Books & Belonging Summer Reading with Neighbors Saturday August 16 North Kingstown Free Library 100 Boone St, North Kingstown, RI 10:00 - 10:45 AM: Stop the Hate: Identifying & Reporting Hate Crimes and Incidents of Bias. Workshop for adults, led by Youth Pride RI. 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM: Summer Reading with Neighbors: Inclusive storytime and activities for kids and families. We will be collecting donations for the NK Food Bank. Donations are not required for entry. Questions? Email: tank.org.nk@gmail.com
Members of the RI Freedom to Read coalition gather around a table at Track 15 in Providence.
The first people a dictator puts in jail after a coup are the writers, the teachers, the librarians - because these people are dangerous. They have enough vocabulary to recognize injustice and to speak out loudly about it. Let us have the courage to go on being dangerous people. Madeleine L' Engle
“never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens CAN change the world! Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead
Rhode Island House of Representatives vote tally for the Freedom To Read Act Sponsor: Morales Committee: State Gov. & Elections Bill: 2025-H 5726 SUB A LIBRARIES - FREEDOM TO READ ACT PASSAGE
5th Annual TEACH TRUTH RI DAY OF ACTION Across the country, and even in Rhode Island, politicians, activists and corporate powers are pushing laws and policies to prevent teaching honestly about U.S. history and to force LGBTQIA+ students to hide their identities. To protect young people's right to learn - and protect the future of democracy and justice - we need to expose the right's agenda and be visible in our defense of teaching people's history. JOIN US to take a public stand in defense of #TeachTruth June 7, 2025 2pm - 4pm Knight Memorial Library 275 Elmwood Ave, Providence, RI 02907 teachtruthricoalition @teachtruthri
Freedom to Read Talk & Discussion with Dr Padma Venkatraman Monday, June 2, 7:00 PM Rochambeau Library 708 Hope Street Providence
A gray and white cat rubs its cheek on a sign reading “what is your favorite banned book?”
We, the former National Ambassadors of Young People's Literature, are united in our strong opposition to the recent removal of Dr. Carla Hayden as the Librarian of Congress. As advocates for the reading lives of children and their families, we believe in promoting libraries as places for young people to learn, grow, and connect. Through Dr. Hayden's innovative leadership, the Library - a research institution with the largest holdings in the world - served as a national model of how all libraries could engage a new generation. Her wisdom and vision, along with her unfailing ability to work impartially with all constituents, are unparalleled. Dr. Hayden's dismissal is deeply disturbing and should alarm all Americans. We urge everyone who values our libraries and our foundational principles to contact their leaders in Congress now. Jon Scieszka 2008 - 2009 Katherine Paterson 2010- 2011 Kate DiCamillo 2014- 2015 Gene Luen Yang 2016-2017 Jacqueline Woodson 2018- 2019 Jason Reynolds 2020 - 2022 Meg Medina 2023- 2024
Freedom to Read Postcard Table Saturday, May 24, 10AM - 2PM Warwick Central Library POSTEARD Look for us in the entrance!
2025 KIDS READING ACROSS RHODE ISLAND Join us for a free kickoff celebration featuring author and illustrator Oge Mora and activities from local libraries and community organizations. June 14, 2025 2pm-4pm READING ACROSS RHODE ISLAND William Hall Library 1825 Broad St, Cranston
- RHODE ISLAND SENATE - - - January Session of the General Assembly begun and held at the State House in the City of Providence on Tuesday, the seventh day of January in the year of Our Lord two thousand and twenty five. This document is not an official record of the Senate and does not reflect the final vote of the Senate or of any individual Senator on the captioned matter. The final and official vote is reported in the Journal of the Senate of this date. SEQUENCE NO. 176 TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025 4:57:47 PM YEAS - 30 CALENDAR ITEM 3 2025-S 238 SUB A RELATING TO LIBRARIES --THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT Passage NAYS - 4 NOT VOTING - 4 RECUSED - 0
January Session, A.D. 2025 SENATE CALENDAR -- IN ORDER FOR TUESDAY, MAY 13, 2025: 1. 2025-S 84 SUB A BY Raptakis RATING (See Amendment) ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO INSURANCE - CASUALTY INSURANCE Committee on Commerce recommends indefinite postponement of the original bill and passage of Substitute A. 2. 2025-S 85 SUB A (See Amendment) BY Lawson ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO COMMERCIAL LAW -- GENERAL REGULATORY PROVISIONS -- GROCERY STORES Committee on Commerce recommends indefinite postponement of the original bill and passage of Substitute A. 3. 2025-S 238 SUB A (See Amendment) BY McKenney ENTITLED, AN ACT RELATING TO LIBRARIES -- THE FREEDOM TO READ ACT Committee on Education recommends indefinite postponement of the original bill and passage of Substitute A.
Padma Venkatraman holds up copies of Safe Harbor and Island Creatures backstage in Crowdcast. Jeanette Bradley is running teach support and is pictured in a small circle above the main screen. Both are expressing gratitude for authors “, indie bookstores, and libraries!
FREEDOM READ-IN MORNING 10:00AM-12:45PM ET BIT.LY /READ-IN-AM 10:00: Padma Venkatraman & Jeanette Bradley Introductions & Tribute to Floyd Cooper 10:15: Federico Erebia, Pedro & Daniel 10:30: Suma Subramaniam, Namaste Is A Greeting 10:45: Rajani LaRocca, Your One and Only Heart 11:00: Tara Dairman, The Girl from Earth's End 11:15: Debbi Michiko Florence, Jasmine Toguchi Flamingo Keeper 11:30: Sarah Brannen, Uncle Bobbys Wedding 11:45: Martha Freeman, The Trouble with Babies 12:00: Robin Stevenson, Pride Puppy & A Hug on the Wind 12:15: Lesa Cline-Ransome, One Big Open Sky 12:30: Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Love in the Library AFTERNOON 1:00PM-3:00PM ET BIT.LY / READ-IN-PM 1:00: Veera Hiranandani, The Night Diary 1:15: Samantha Clark, Arrow 1:30: Juana Martinez-Neal, Alma and How She Got Her Name 1:45: Alison Green Myers, A Bird Will Soar 2:00: Lisa Stringfellow, Kingdom of Dust 2:15: Dana Alison Levy, Not Another Banned Book 2:30: Carol Boston Weatherford, Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre 2:45: Margarita Engle, Drum Dream Girl IN SUPPORT OF FREEDOM TO READ EFFORTS ACROSS THE U.S. MAY 9, 2025 - 10-3 ET
FREEDOM READ-IN MORNING 10:00AM-12:45PM ET BIT.LY /READ-IN-AM 10:00: Padma Venkatraman & Jeanette Bradley Introductions & Tribute to Floyd Cooper 10:15: Federico Erebia, Pedro & Daniel 10:30: Suma Subramaniam, Namaste Is A Greeting 10:45: Rajani LaRocca, Your One and Only Heart 11:00: Tara Dairman, The Girl from Earth's End 11:15: Debbi Michiko Florence, Jasmine Toguchi Flamingo Keeper 11:30: Sarah Brannen, Uncle Bobbys Wedding 11:45: Martha Freeman, The Trouble with Babies 12:00: Robin Stevenson, Pride Puppy & A Hug on the Wind 12:15: Lesa Cline-Ransome, One Big Open Sky 12:30: Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Love in the Library AFTERNOON 1:00PM-3:00PM ET BIT.LY / READ-IN-PM 1:00: Veera Hiranandani, The Night Diary 1:15: Samantha Clark, Arrow 1:30: Juana Martinez-Neal, Alma and How She Got Her Name 1:45: Alison Green Myers, A Bird Will Soar 2:00: Lisa Stringfellow, Kingdom of Dust 2:15: Dana Alison Levy, Not Another Banned Book 2:30: Carol Boston Weatherford, Unspeakable: The Tulsa Race Massacre 2:45: Margarita Engle, Drum Dream Girl IN SUPPORT OF FREEDOM TO READ EFFORTS ACROSS THE U.S. MAY 9, 2025 - 10-3 ET
FREEDOM READ-IN MORNING 10:00AM-12:45PM ET 10:00: Padma Venkatraman & Jeanette Bradley Introductions & Tribute to Floyd Cooper 10:15: Federico Erebia, Pedro & Daniel 10:30: Suma Subramaniam, Namaste Is A Greeting 10:45: Rajani LaRocca, Your One and Only Heart 11:00: Tara Dairman, The Girl from Earth's End 11:15: Debbi Michiko Florence, Jasmine Toguchi Flamingo Keeper 11:30: Sarah Brannen, Uncle Bobby's Wedding 11:45: Martha Freeman, The Trouble with Babies 12:00: Robin Stevenson, Pride Puppy & A Hug on the Wind 12:15: Lesa Cline-Ransome, Before She Was Harriet 12:30: Maggie Tokuda-Hall, Love in the Library FREE, LIVE, ONLINE EVENT SUPPORT FREEDOM TO READ EFFORTS ACROSS THE U.S. MAY 9, 2025 - 10-3 ET
SUPPORT FREEDOM TO READ EFFORTS ACROSS THE U.S. FREEDOM READ-IN 20 ACCLAIMED AUTHORS - 5 HOURS FREE, LIVE, ONLINE EVENT Authors Against Book Bans MAY 9, 2025 - 10-3 ET
Lift Every Voice and Sing James Weldon Johnson 1871 - 1938 Lift every voice and sing. Till earth and heaven ring. Ring with the harmonies of Libertyi Let our rejoicing rise High as the list ning skies, Let it resound loud as the rolling sea. #PassRlFreedomToReadln2025 #FreedomToRead
Old South Meeting House by January Gill O'Neil ... one nation under this vaulted roof, exalted voice in praise and dise poetry out loud. We draw breath from brick. Ignite the fire in us. Speak to us: the language is hope. #PassRlFreedomToReadln2025 #FreedomToReadRHODE EISLAND FREEDOM
Let Them Not Say by Jane Hirshfield Let them not say: it was not spoken, not written. We spoke, we witnessed with voices and hands. Let them not say they did nothing We did not-enough. #PassRlFreedomToReadln2025 #FreedomToRead RHODE LISLAND
Let America Be America Again by Langston Hughes Let America be the dream the dreamers dreamed— Let it be that great strong land of love Where never kings connive nor tyrants scheme That any man be crushed by one above. #PassRlFreedomToReadin2025 #FreedomToRead RHODE
Protest by Ella Wheeler Wilcox 1850 - 1919 To sin by silence, when we should protest, Makes cowards out of men. The human race Has climbed on protest. Had no voice been raised Against injustice, ignorance, and lust, The inquisition yet would serve the law, And quillotines decide our least disputes. #PassRlFreedomToReadln2025 #FreedomToRead
let words lend it dimension: to name the pain to confirm how it may be borne: through what in ourselves we dream to give voice to, to find some word for how we bear our lives.
Independent Man shines in the spring sunlight on top of the R.I. statehouse
Celebrate the Freedom to Read on Great Poetry Reading Day, April 28! Post a video of yourself reading a poem excerpt on socials on April 28. Use hashtags and tag your Ri Reps! #PassRlFreedomToReadln2025 #FreedomToRead <image is text on a torn notebook page, on top of a red and blue background with stars> All you have to do is take a video of yourself reading a short excerpt from a poem that you or someone else has written, especially if the poem has significance to the Freedom to Read Bill. (themes of freedom, democracy, free speech, love of books, library joy, etc.) Here are some tips to make it easy for you: 1. Keep in mind fair use - if the poem was published after 1926, and thus still subject to copyright, please only read an excerpt online. Please remember to cite your source! 2. Post using the hashtags: #FreedomToRead #PassRIFreedomToReadIn2025 Tag us and Rhode Island House of Representatives and Rhode Island Senate and your own rep/senator if they have socials 3. Here is a generic script/caption template - modify as you wish, be sure to replace the generic text with the actual poem title and author! Happy #GreatPoetryReadingDay! Censorship is unamerican and against Rhode Island’s values. In celebration of poetry and reading and in support of the RI Freedom to Read Act, I’m sharing an excerpt from [poem title] by [author]. Please #PassRIFreedomToReadIn2025 #FreedomToRead [tag us and reps]