(NEW YORK)— In response to today’s signing by New Jersey Gov Phil Murphy of the Freedom to Read Act, PEN America made the following comment:
“We applaud the signing of New Jersey’s Freedom to Read Act by Governor Phil Murphy,” said Kasey Meehan, program director, Freedom to Read at PEN America. “In a moment where we are seeing increased pressure put on librarians and libraries to censor, laws like these implement important safeguards to protect the freedom to read and learn within schools and public libraries. We hope others will join states like New Jersey, Maryland, Minnesota, and Illinois in ensuring the right to read for all.”
The law prevents arbitrary book banning and protects the rights of students, parents, and communities to have free access to age-appropriate books and learning materials at schools and public libraries. The Governor signed the bill at the Princeton Public Library, joined by advocates for intellectual freedom and the bill’s legislative sponsors.
Since 2021, PEN America has been at the forefront of documenting and defending against the unprecedented rise of school book bans nationwide and the spread of educational censorship that target a range of subjects in public school classrooms and on college campuses.
During the 2023-2024 school year, PEN America documented more than 10,000 instances of book bans nationwide.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057