The READER Act Part Two: An Interview with Kasey Meehan of PEN America

The READER Act Part Three: An Interview with Charley Rejsek from BookPeople

A coalition of organizations and businesses is suing the State of Texas over the READER Act. Today we are joined by Charley Rejsek, the CEO of BookPeople, to talk about being a plaintiff in the case. Listen to better understand the threat that the READER Act poses not only to Texas readers, but to Texas businesses. Visit our website [https://www.readfreemovement.com/] Follow us on Instagram: @readfreepod Visit the BookPeople website [https://www.bookpeople.com/] Follow BookPeople on Instagram: @bookpeople Find an independent bookstore near you [https://www.indiebound.org/indie-store-finder]

The READER Act Part Two: An Interview with Kasey Meehan of PEN America

Kasey Meehan, the Freedom to Read Program Director of PEN America, joins us for a conversation about the READER Act and beyond. Listen for expert insights on the threats facing the freedom to read in Texas and across the country. Visit our website [https://www.readfreemovement.com/] Follow us on Instagram: @readfreepod Resources discussed in this episode: PEN America Action Page [https://pen.org/issue/free-the-books/] IN WIN FOR FREE EXPRESSION, JUDGE RULES LAWSUIT CHALLENGING ESCAMBIA COUNTY, FL BOOK BANS CAN MOVE FORWARD - PEN America [https://pen.org/press-release/in-win-for-free-expression-judge-rules-lawsuit-challenging-escambia-county-fl-book-bans-can-move-forward/] Texas FReadom Fighters [https://www.txfreadomfighters.us/] Instagram: @freadomfighters Texas Freedom to Read Project [https://www.txftrp.org/#:~:text=Texas%20Freedom%20to%20Read%20Project%2C%20launched%20in%20December%202023%2C%20seeks,to%20read%20throughout%20the%20state.] Instagram: @txfreedomread Students Engaged in Advancing Texas [https://www.studentsengaged.org/] Instagram: @studentsengagedtx Children's Defense Fund [https://www.childrensdefense.org/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiAuNGuBhAkEiwAGId4akwnxBf0lLyvVSwhvakK0ng-fqxgr5p-BiwKEOCpwYG5SP18rofUJxoCjjYQAvD_BwE] Instagram: @cdftexas ACLU of Texas [https://www.aclutx.org/] Instagram: @aclutx

The READER Act Part One: An Overview

Part 1 of Read Free's 3 part series on the READER Act in Texas. Listen for a brief history of the Act and learn where it now stands. Sources: Texas House votes to permanently stay on daylight saving time | Texas Tribune [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/11/texas-daylight-saving-time/] Texas House passes CROWN Act | Texas Tribune [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/04/12/texas-crown-act-hairstyle-discrimination/] Bill eliminating tampon, diaper sales taxes OK’d by Texas House | Texas Tribune [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/03/28/texas-diaper-tampon-sales-tax/] HB 900 Text | Bill Track 50 [https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1593675] Texas Library Legislation Watch | Texas Library Association [https://txla.org/advocacy/texas-legislative-session/library-related-issues/] Conservative Fifth Circuit’s 2023 Rulings Test Supreme Court | Bloomberg Law [https://news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/conservative-fifth-circuits-2023-rulings-test-supreme-court] HB 900 Oral Arguments [https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/OralArgRecordings/23/23-50668_11-29-2023.mp3] BookPeople Resources and FAQ [https://www.bookpeople.com/faq/hb-900] Appeals Court Issues Injunction | Texas Tribune [https://www.texastribune.org/2024/01/17/texas-book-rating-lawsuit-5th-circuit/] In Major Win, Appeals Court Upholds Block on Texas Book Rating Law | Publishers Weekly [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/94115-in-major-win-appeals-court-upholds-block-on-texas-book-rating-law.html] Federal judge bars Texas from enforcing book rating law | Texas Tribune [https://www.texastribune.org/2023/08/31/texas-book-rating-lawsuit/] Lawsuit Press Release [https://www.bookweb.org/news/aba-files-suit-challenging-texas-censorship-law-1629754]

What’s in the News: Granbury ISD Federal Investigation

Leaked audio files and lawsuits. Learn what's going on in Granbury ISD. Sources: https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/education/granbury-isd-pulls-over-100-library-books-for-review/287-fc1cb585-71a4-48be-98ac-158fe4fa185b [https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/education/granbury-isd-pulls-over-100-library-books-for-review/287-fc1cb585-71a4-48be-98ac-158fe4fa185b] https://twitter.com/cjtackett/status/1486802675522060290 [https://twitter.com/cjtackett/status/1486802675522060290] https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/23/north-texas-superintendent-targets-books-about-transgender-people/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2022/03/23/north-texas-superintendent-targets-books-about-transgender-people/] https://thetexan.news/after-media-firestorm-library-book-controversy-at-granbury-isd-smolders-as-citizens-continue-complex-task-of-review/ [https://thetexan.news/after-media-firestorm-library-book-controversy-at-granbury-isd-smolders-as-citizens-continue-complex-task-of-review/] https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/11/texas-library-book-ban-granbury/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2022/08/11/texas-library-book-ban-granbury/] https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/20/granbury-books-investigation-civil-rights/ [https://www.texastribune.org/2022/12/20/granbury-books-investigation-civil-rights/] https://www.aclutx.org/sites/default/files/aclutx_granbury_isd_title_ix_complaint.pdf [https://www.aclutx.org/sites/default/files/aclutx_granbury_isd_title_ix_complaint.pdf] https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/01/13/granbury-book-ban-biden-civil-rights-investigation-title-ix/ [https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/01/13/granbury-book-ban-biden-civil-rights-investigation-title-ix/] https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/granbury-texas-students-book-ban-rcna13617 [https://www.msnbc.com/the-reidout/reidout-blog/granbury-texas-students-book-ban-rcna13617] https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/the-year-we-banned-books/ [https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/the-year-we-banned-books/] https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-book-ban [https://www.change.org/p/stop-the-book-ban] https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-banned-books-library-granbury-lgbtq [https://www.propublica.org/article/texas-banned-books-library-granbury-lgbtq] https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2021/11/23/republican-state-rep-matt-krause-drops-out-of-attorney-generals-race-to-run-for-tarrant-county-district-attorney/ [https://www.ksat.com/news/texas/2021/11/23/republican-state-rep-matt-krause-drops-out-of-attorney-generals-race-to-run-for-tarrant-county-district-attorney/] https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/article268102897.html [https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/election/article268102897.html]

The History of Book Banning

The History of Book Banning At Read Free, we believe that you must understand the past to create a better future. That's why today's episode takes you through over 2,000 years of booking banning. Listen to the end for information about what you can do in your community right now to protect the right to read. Sources: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/history-of-book-bans-in-the-united-states [https://www.nationalgeographic.com/culture/article/history-of-book-bans-in-the-united-states] https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/88195-harvey-j-graff-examines-the-history-of-book-banning.html [https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/columns-and-blogs/soapbox/article/88195-harvey-j-graff-examines-the-history-of-book-banning.html] https://www.freedomtoread.ca/resources/bannings-and-burnings-in-history/ [https://www.freedomtoread.ca/resources/bannings-and-burnings-in-history/] https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10 [https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10] https://www.thefire.org/banned-books-week-explore-banned-and-challenged-books/ [https://www.thefire.org/banned-books-week-explore-banned-and-challenged-books/] https://www.britannica.com/topic/Index-Librorum-Prohibitorum [https://www.britannica.com/topic/Index-Librorum-Prohibitorum] https://library.loras.edu/bannedliterature/index [https://library.loras.edu/bannedliterature/index] https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/bioscience/butler-act-the-law-that-outlawed-evolution/ [https://www.bbvaopenmind.com/en/science/bioscience/butler-act-the-law-that-outlawed-evolution/] https://famous-trials.com/scopesmonkey/2127-home [https://famous-trials.com/scopesmonkey/2127-home] https://thisbookisbanned.com/on-censorship/book-banning-burning-throughout-history/ [https://thisbookisbanned.com/on-censorship/book-banning-burning-throughout-history/] https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/09/24/off-the-shelf/9fc7a112-70d7-4434-aa14-bc56385c9b37/ [https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/2002/09/24/off-the-shelf/9fc7a112-70d7-4434-aa14-bc56385c9b37/] https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/23/salman-rushdie-has-lost-sight-in-one-eye-and-use-of-one-hand-says-agent [https://www.theguardian.com/books/2022/oct/23/salman-rushdie-has-lost-sight-in-one-eye-and-use-of-one-hand-says-agent] https://flatheadbeacon.com/2022/08/29/library-sees-resignations-following-bullet-riddled-books/ [https://flatheadbeacon.com/2022/08/29/library-sees-resignations-following-bullet-riddled-books/]