Salman Rushdie and Cheryl Strayed among endorsers of anti-censorship initiative

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Salman Rushdie, Cheryl Strayed, Carl Hiassen, and Ibram X. Kendi are among a group of prominent authors who have lent their support to an initiative against censorship. The American Library Association and the Association of American Publishers have issued a statement drawing attention to the 70th anniversary of the Freedom to Read Statement, originally released by book publishers and librarians during the McCarthy era.

In light of the escalating instances of book bans across the country over the past two years, these library and publishing associations are calling on all members of the book community to reaffirm their commitment to the principles outlined in the June 1953 declaration. This declaration emphasizes the importance of providing a wide range of perspectives and expressions, even those that may be considered unorthodox, unpopular, or dangerous by the majority, as it serves the public interest.

A press announcement released on Sunday states: “Today, as we confront a new surge of censorship in educational institutions, libraries, and bookstores, targeting both fiction and nonfiction works, the Freedom to Read Statement remains a vital safeguard for the freedom to write, publish, and explore.”

In addition to Salman Rushdie, Cheryl Strayed, Carl Hiassen, and Ibram X. Kendi, this initiative has garnered support from notable figures such as Jennifer Egan, Ron Chernow, Jodi Picoult, as well as prominent organizations including Penguin Random House, Simon & Schuster, the Authors Guild, and the American Booksellers Association.

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