Image – Getty: Jairo Mesa
By Porter Anderson, Editor-in-Chief | @Porter_Anderson
Raccah: ‘Book Bans Silence Voices’
As book bans continue to rise in the United States, and with the American Library Association’s annual National Library Week set on the calendar for April 6 through 12, Penguin Random House’s “Banned on the Run” employee initiative includes those hired by PRH and by Sourcebooks, in which PRH has the 52-percent controlling interest.
Today (March 25), the new initiative launched a first 5k for employee participation, benefiting the Freedom To Read Foundation, a nonprofit “legal and educational organization” devised to “protect and defend the First Amendment to the US Constitution and to support the rights of both libraries and citizens to access information.
Within 12 hours of registration opening Monday (March 24), Penguin Random House and Sourcebooks employees had raised more than $10,000 for the Freedom To Read Foundation, quickly surpassing the campaign’s initial fundraising goal. As of this evening, the total has climbed to more than $17,000.
Fundraising is expected to continue through the end of National Library week on April 12, culminating in a “virtual walkathon” and activity challenge, logging miles based on physical and wellness activities including running and other things.
The concept for Banned on the Run was created by Phillip Stamper-Halpin, director of author development and member of the Penguin Random House Intellectual Freedom Taskforce. Stamper-Halpin and his team are spearheading the grassroots initiative with the support of the contribution-processing platform Charity Footprints.
Phillip Stamper-Halpin
In a statement issued tonight, Stamper-Halpin is quoted, saying, “As a banned author myself, I’ve spent years hearing often marginalized kids and teens tell their stories about how the book banning crisis has negatively impacted their lives,” he said.
“There’s such a hunger out there to help fight book bans from inside and outside the industry, but people don’t often know how they can make a difference. I wanted to give PRH and Sourcebooks employees a chance to make that impact.”
Deborah Caldwell-Stone
“We have been partners with PRH for many years, fighting side by side to defend everyone’s right to access and read the books they want and need,” said Deborah Caldwell-Stone, executive director of the Freedom To Read Foundation.
“The funds generously given by event participants will allow us to continue to go to court to oppose legislation that removes books from library and bookstore shelves and vilifies librarians for providing books to people who need them.”
Dominique Raccah
The long-familiar Dominique Raccah, founder and head of Sourcebooks, says, “We will always stand up for the freedom to read, teach, and share ideas.
“Book bans silence voices, period. At a time when libraries, books, and diverse ideas and identities are under attack, defending this freedom is more critical than ever. So when we heard about “Banned on the Run,” we immediately jumped at the opportunity to stand with our friends at PRH in supporting the Freedom To Read Foundation. I’m deeply grateful for the chance to contribute to their vital work.”
This year, “Banned on the Run” is only open to Penguin Random House and Sourcebooks staff members. In the future, however, the team says it hopes to expand the fundraising initiative so that authors, librarians, teachers, and others in the publishing industry can help raise funds to fight book bans and defend the freedom to read.
“Banned on the Run” is part of Penguin Random House’s set of ongoing efforts to combat book banning and censorship, which include multiple legal actions, tailored support for various stakeholders, and advocacy for First Amendment rights.
Donations to the program, either for specific employees’ efforts or to the campaign in general, can be made here.
More from Publishing Perspectives on book bannings is here, more on censorship in the broader context is here, more on the freedom to publish and freedom of expression is here, and more on the United States book industry is here.