Hochul should sign the Freedom to Read Act during Banned Book Week to assert our shared conviction that everyone has the right to learn and to think for themselves.
Recently, threats to the First Amendment have been more intense than ever. The federal government is attacking free speech in very public ways, trying to silence comedians, news outlets, journalists and ordinary individuals who have dared to criticize public figures and government policies. PEN America documented more than 10,000 book bans in public schools during the 2023-24 school year, the highest yet recorded. The American Library Association has likewise reported record levels of challenges and removals, including in districts across New York.
At a time when organized campaigns seek to narrow what children and families can read, New York has an opportunity to lead. We urge Gov. Kathy Hochul to sign the Freedom to Read Act (S.1099/A.7777) — and we encourage her to do it during Banned Books Week, which falls this year from Oct. 5 to 11. This bill, which we sponsored in the Legislature, protects intellectual freedom in schools and libraries across our state.
Americans across the political spectrum strongly oppose threats to free speech and want elected officials to take action to protect our basic national value of freedom of expression. 71% of voters — including 70% of Republicans — oppose removing books from public libraries simply because some find them offensive or inappropriate, according to national polling from the American Library Association.
What is being targeted tells an even more troubling story. According to PEN, 36% of banned titles featured people of color, and 25% featured LGBTQ+ characters. Books that reflect the diversity of our society are the ones most often pulled from shelves. This is not about protecting children. In fact, over and over again we hear stories about children who, when facing bullying, ostracism or discrimination, literally found lifesaving validation by reading books about children who look like them.
The Freedom to Read Act creates clear procedures for reviewing contested materials, protects school and library staff acting in good faith and prevents partisan campaigns from dictating access. Importantly, it codifies practices that are already working well in many New York school districts. And it sends a signal that our state will not follow the path of others where censorship has become law.
New York has long prided itself on being a beacon for liberty, diversity and democratic participation. The Freedom to Read Act is a continuation of that tradition. It is not a radical measure. It is a safeguard — one that ensures our libraries and schools remain places of knowledge and growth.
Signing this bill during Banned Books Week will demonstrate New York’s leadership at precisely the right moment. It will signal that New York’s leaders trust our communities, respect our diversity and believe that every person has the right to learn and to think for themselves. That is the promise of democracy, and it begins with the freedom to read.
