Join us for a discussion on the alarming trend of book banning in the United States. As conservative groups intensify efforts to restrict access to literature at both local and national levels, our right to free speech faces an unprecedented challenge.

A panel of three experts will discuss:

• The current landscape of book banning attempts across the country

• The impact of these bans on education, libraries, and public discourse

• How you can take action in your community

Don't miss this opportunity to arm yourself with knowledge and tools to stand up for freedom of expression. Together, we can ensure that diverse voices and ideas remain accessible to all.

PANEL PARTICIPANTS:

Raised between Syracuse, NY and Amman Jordan, Diana Abu-Jaber often writes about cultural identity. Her latest work, Fencing With the King, a novel of Middle Eastern intrigue and family dynamics, was featured by Apple books as one of this year’s most-anticipated novels. Her other award-winning novels include Birds of Paradise; Origin; Crescent; and Arabian Jazz, and well as two memoirs, Life Without A Recipe and The Language of Baklava. Her middle grade novel Silverworld is just out in paperback from Crown/Random House. Diana is a professor at Portland State University and lives with her family in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

Andrew Batcher is the Social Justice Coordinator for the Potomac Partnership, a partnership of three Unitarian Universalist Congregations in Maryland and Virginia. He is a professional community organizer who has been involved in many social movements, including the peace movement, Occupy, Black Lives Matter, and countering hate groups. Part of his work has revolved around organizing the faith community to counter efforts at censorship and book banning, especially in Virginia. Andrew has participated in school board advocacy for inclusive materials, de-escalated at contentious rallies, and organized two large events. Teaching Truth: Putting Students First, was a teach-in about Critical Race Theory on the day it was banned in schools in Virginia (which was also Martin Luther King's birthday). Unstoppable Stories, A Banned Books Festival was a joyful event to celebrate banned books and the people who write them.  Andrew also writes poetry in his spare time.

Kasey Meehan is the Program Director for Freedom to Read at PEN America, leading PEN’s initiatives to protect the rights of students, individuals, and communities to freely access literature in schools and public libraries. Kasey oversees and supports research, advocacy and mobilization, education, and author engagement related to book bans and the overarching freedom to read. Previously, Kasey served as the Associate Director of Postsecondary Policy at a mission-driven education research organization in Philadelphia, Research for Action. Meehan holds a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and a MPA from the Fels Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. 

This event is free to attend but registration is required. Please register for the Zoom link here.