Do you remember your favorite book that you read as a kid? The books we read as children have an impact on us in a way that few other readings in our lives do. As children, we read stories that transport us to different universes and that help us figure out the world around us, informing how we think about ourselves, our friends and neighbors, and our environment.

Historically, books have long been the target of people and organizations who are afraid of the free exchange of ideas and who want to control a particular message. Present day, book bans are on the rise yet again. At the ACLU-WA, we believe that everyone should be able to say, read and write what they want without fear of censorship, or intervention by or suppression from their government. This is why we celebrate Banned Books Week.

Banned Books Week is an annual event that brings the community together in support of the freedom to read and draws national attention to harmful types of censorship. The week also stresses the importance of preserving the right to read unorthodox or unpopular viewpoints.

In recent years, there has been an aggressive rise in attempts to restrict availability of certain books to the public, often targeting books that center the stories of Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, as well as LGBTQIA2S+ individuals.

We must continue fighting censorship and highlight the importance of keeping books —and therefore knowledge and ideas — available. Look through the resources below, including an FAQ about book banning in Washington state, to learn more and see what you can do to get involved.