Now is the time for authors with privilege to spend it - use it. And readers with privilege. Kids need and have a right to books that reflect the world that exists. That show them. That's what we're losing in the banning crisis.

We are disappointed and dismayed that @leanderisd or any other Texas district would preemptively remove titles from our kids’ classrooms like these. The law doesn’t require it and students deserve access to diverse reading material. www.fox7austin.com/news/leander...

Damn this is good. History, politics, emotion, hope, CHANGE.

🚨🚨🚨🚨

Basically the call to action is threefold: First, we need to get these books back into LISD classrooms. LISD’s board is meeting 10/9, and has a chance to rectify this mistake. They need to know that the public does NOT support unconstitutional removal of books for the ideas they contain.

I wrote more about this here, including a call to action: franklinstrong.substack.com/p/to-kill-a-...

(As an aside, the list also contains Victor Hugo’s Les Miserables. How can that be considered a “DEI” book? That’s what happens when you use AI. People: Think for yourselves and stop using hallucinating robots to make decisions.)

Apparently, AI was used to measure instructional texts against a rubric that took into account “DEI content.”

The reason? Senate Bill 12 the “parental rights,” anti-DEI, anti-LGBTQ monster bill that also bans GSA clubs and forbids teachers from using trans or non-binary students’ pronouns or preferred names.

This corresponding email went out to parents.

I need help getting this CRAZY censorship story out! Last week, admins in Leander ISD emailed teachers telling them to “pause” use of 40 books relating to “DEI” that had previously been curriculum or choice reading activities. Included on the list? To Kill a Mockingbird. #bookbans #booksky

Important information here! Blue states are especially in danger - same forces are at work in both places.

Kimmel is up on YouTube

Historians and citizens who say they are concerned about the Trump administration's pressure on the Smithsonian are working to document exhibits, as they exist today, throughout the museum network.

Some takeaways from ABC/Disney backtracking on Kimmel: 1) Corps only care about $$ SCOTUS says money is speech. So use your voice! Boycotts work. Collective action works! 2) A huge amount of energy went into helping Kimmel. We need that same energy for book bans & attacks on marginalized creators.

Hey, Autism is not a disease. While not all Autistics have food aversion, it is found in a lot of Autistic and neurodivergent folk. If you want to stick it to the people sharing and celebrating the spreading of misinformation about Autism, share stuff made by Autistic folk. Like my book:

97 new objections in Clay (by two people) that resulted in: - 46 Restrictions - 31 Removals - 11 Withdrawn (titles not in catalog) - 8 Retained - 1 “Weeded” (cannot be re-ordered, so not really weeded) For those that thought the ruling would save us- it didn’t. docs.google.com/spreadsheets...

If you are considering or planning to seek appointment or run for your local library board, FTP is here to support you. You can complete this form and we'll be in touch soon re: applying to join our next candidates' cohort kicking off in early 2026: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1F...

every time we talk about parental permission in terms of book banning I'm like fuck man. kids have rights too. a 17-year-old should be able to check out books at the library without Mom and Dad stepping in. so should a 10-year-old or 7 or whatever. kids deserve SOME goddamn freedom and privacy

Kicked out of Columbia University, now Washington Post. All for writing and speaking about race and injustice. The best way to support my work is to join @resistanceschool.bsky.social and take my class on Race, Media and International Affairs 101! www.resistancesummerschool.com/fall-2025-re...

You could buy: Homeland: bookshop.org/p/books/home... The Big Bath House: bookshop.org/p/books/the-... What Are Your Words: bookshop.org/p/books/what... The ABCs of Black History: bookshop.org/p/books/the-... Sharice's Big Voice: bookshop.org/p/books/shar...

Thank you to everyone who has supported me. I refuse to be silenced. Please consider a paid subscription to my Substack so I can continue doing my work. My pen will now be sharper than ever. substack.com/@karenattiah...

*9/17/2025 noncooperation thread* The courage of these teachers, my word. Colbert & Kimmel will (personally, as individuals) be ok; these teachers are putting their notoriously pint-sized livelihoods on the line TO TEACH THE CONSTITUTION. 5/

Canadian authors & illustrators! You know have your own Authors Against Book Bans! Sign up here! linktr.ee/caiabb

Proud to offer an intro to this important guide from @freedomreadproject.bsky.social - for more information - go here! www.freedomtoreadproject.org/turning_the_...

And if you like your swag .. they got some! 2 mugs and gonna doing some book shopping later.

ugh @loyaltybooks.bsky.social is amazing, one of my fav shops -- take a look at their site and pick up a few books if you've got some spare cash loyaltybookstores.com

DO IT. Im in 102!!!! You will learn SO much. And grow. AndMOVE and make community. Critical in these times

Watch this save. Do good with Kelly. I will

Here's how to support my work: I'll be teaching a version of my Columbia class on Race, Media and International Affairs 101 and 102 next month for @resistanceschool.bsky.social. The course is online/ hybrid. Deadline is Sept. 19th! Sign up! www.resistancesummerschool.com/fall-2025-re...

Some personal news: I've been fired from the Washington Post in the aftermath of the Charlie Kirk shooting. Thread incoming. substack.com/@karenattiah...

Channel your outrage about @washingtonpost.com firing @karenattiah.bsky.social into support for her work

In a *second* update to today's story about the IMLS funneling money into a "Freedom Trucks" project–& how it, as well as the announcement for it–are tremendous regime propaganda, it was unearthed that the $14 million came from robbing IMLS's National Leadership Grants. bookriot.com/imls-freedom...

Tomorrow!

I’m heartbroken but not surprised that people are calling for my &Meeg’s bio of Sarah McBride 2be destroyed. Book bans are a prime tool of fascism It’s why we need 2 support LGBTQ+ books-which are overwhelmingly targeted in book bans. Buy them, positively review them, check them out in the library!

1. You may have heard of book bans before, but the new one in Alabama takes the cake. The Alabama Public Library Service has a new proposal that would ban—get this—only "positive depictions" of trans people. The hearing is next month. Public comment is open. Subscribe to support our journalism.

8. The fight over Alabama’s library codes is not going unchallenged. Groups like the Alabama Transgender Rights Action Coalition and Read Free Alabama are mobilizing against the proposed restrictions. They’ve laid out clear steps for residents who want to resist.

9. Submit written letters to the Alabama Public Library Service directly, request to speak at the September 18th or October 21 hearing in Montgomery, or use Read Free Alabama’s tool to automatically send a pre-written letter to the board. aplsws2.apls.state.al.us/publications...

Always read Will's columns Gift Link share.inquirer.com/NSfMtr

“Black women do not have the brain processing power to be taken seriously. You have to go steal a white person’s slot”. -Charlie Kirk

For everyone saying political violence has no place in this country… Remember two Democratic legislators were shot in Minnesota just this year. And America shrugged and moved on.

I appreciate @publisherswkly.bsky.social bringing attention to the efforts to raise money for books for Minneapolis school kids in the wake of the Annunciation school shooting. I'm both honored and saddened to have my book involved. But it's why I wrote it. We don't have to live this way.

Can’t wait for this to be released! Community support and advocacy preserved the right to read in my district and helped spark the NJ Freedom to Read Act. Community voices make a difference. Raise your voice in any way you can.

Maybe read it twice, even

Pay attention! cc @txfreedomread.bsky.social and @freadomfighters.bsky.social are great resources.

Pls sign Canadian Authors & Illustrators Against Book Bans (CAIABB aka #CAIABB) petition asking Alberta govt to reverse their decision: change.org/AB-book-ban More info: linktr.ee/caiabb Follow @robinstevenson.bsky.social @whatwouldjuliedraw.bsky.social for updates! #BookBans #KidLit #CanLit

Over 300K Black women have lost their jobs. That's a huge story with wild consequences for the economy. Your first priority as a progressive org should be to hire some goddamn Black women.

Just learned about this bookstore today on whirlwind trip to Chicago. Check them out. Support them. They are doing the work to support, create community. Educate! www.semicolonchi.org

Reporters from across newsrooms in Chicago are collaborating to collect visual evidence of federal agents detaining people & using force in Chicago. Send videos to tinyurl.com/chicagojourn..., or get in touch via email [email protected].

"We live in an upside-down world now where books are dangerous items to be locked away from children except in special cases, and only put in front of them with special approval from literally the highest authorities in any given school district." open.substack.com/pub/franklin...