Jailed for Words and Art: Uplifting Critical Voices and Fighting Censorship
You have the right to say what you think, share information and demand a better world. Exercising these rights – without fear or unlawful interference – is central to living in an open and fair society. Yet across the globe governments have increased censorship and routinely imprison people for speaking out!
This event will feature the works of critical voices that governments are trying to silence. We will hear from local advocates who work to promote and protect free speech!
Event Registration: https://bit.ly/3Bsnas5
Speakers include:
Martha Hickson has been a high school librarian since 2005. A graduate of the Rutgers University School of Communication & Information, Martha has written for School Library Journal, Booklist, KnowledgeQuest, the American Library Association Intellectual Freedom Blog, NJEA Review, and School Librarian’s Workshop. She has been a presenter at conferences and webinars, including the American Association of School Librarians, Future Ready Librarians, the New Jersey Library Association, and the New Jersey Association of School Librarians. Her defense of intellectual freedom has been recognized with awards from the New Jersey Association of School Librarians, the New Jersey Library Association, the American Association of School Librarians, and the National Council of Teachers of English. In 2022, the National Coalition Against Censorship presented Martha with the Judith Krug Outstanding Librarian Award and the American Library Association presented her with the Lemony Snicket Prize for Noble Librarians Faced with Adversity in recognition of her “energy and bravery in the face of … persistent and ongoing hostility,” while advocating for students’ First Amendment right to read.
Cameron Samuels (they/them) recently graduated from the Katy Independent School District in Texas where they organized FReadom Week, a district-wide effort that began the distribution of 700+ challenged and banned books across Texas. Once the only student to speak at school board meetings, Samuels built a student-led movement within months by packing board meetings to stand up for the Freedom to Read.
International Federation of Libraries and more!
