Hands Off Our Books: Writing & Reading in an Era of Censorship

From bias in the publishing industry to the pressures of self-censorship to book bans, authors face increasing barriers in the book industry. On Sat, March 7 from 1-3pm Rhode Island authors Mariahadessa Ekere Tallie, Cathy G. Johnson, and Padma Venkatraman will join LitArts RI Executive Director Christina Bevilacqua for Hands Off Our Books, a conversation about their experiences with censorship and targeted attacks on their work, the growing threats to Americans’ unfettered access to books, and how to best advocate for freedom to read throughout our communities and our nation. We’ll celebrate Rhode Island’s unique protections for authors, made possible through the Freedom to Read Act, signed into law in 2025, while also discussing the larger ramifications of bias and censorship in the book world for writers publishing today and the readers who love their work.

Learn more about the Freedom to Read legislation here.

This event is made possible in part by funding from the Dexter Donation.

Accessibility

LitArts RI is wheelchair accessible. The organization is actively committed to cultivating a community that values and reflects diversity, equity and inclusivity and to providing programming that is accessible to all attendees. Please let us know about any accommodations we can make to allow you to participate fully in this event.

Health Safety Guidelines

If you have tested positive for Covid-19 within a few days of attending an event at LitArts RI, please contact Staff so we can let others know of possible exposure. We ask that you wait 14 days or until testing negative to return to the Center.