Celebration of Banned Books in Raleigh, North Carolina
Save Our Schools NC, in association with PEN America North Carolina/Piedmont, hosted a Celebration of Banned Books on Saturday, May 7 from 11 am to 1 pm at the Halifax Mall in Raleigh, North Carolina. This joyful, family-friendly event featured readings of banned or challenged books, a “take a book” area, and an action tent where attendees learned how to protect students’ freedom to access literature and history in our public schools.
A recent report by PEN America found 15,86 instances of books being banned between July 2021 and March 2022. “Too often, people seeking to ban books from our schools take individual words or phrases from the books and present them out of context, to create the illusion that they’re inappropriate,” says co-organizer Renee Sekel. “So we thought we’d provide that much-needed context and celebrate the beauty in these challenged books.”
About Save Our Schools NC
Save Our Schools NC is a volunteer, grassroots group of citizens, parents, teachers, and public education supporters who advocate for adequate and equitable funding and policy decisions for NC’s public schools.
SPEAKERS
- Camille Kauer, The E-Spot with Camille Kauer
- Michelle Burton, Media Center Specialist and President of the Durham Association of Educators
- Millicent Rogers, Candidate for Durham School Board
- Janice Robinson, North Carolina Director for Red, Wine & Blue