'New Republic' to Launch Banned Books Tour

The New Republic is launching a Banned Books Tour 2023 in October, starting on October 1, the first day of the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week, which runs October 1–7. In partnership with House of SpeakEasy, TNR will drive a bookmobile through "states that have experienced some of the highest incidences of book censorship," including Florida, Missouri, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia, "spreading awareness of the importance of the freedom to read to communities across the United States." 

TNR is raising book and financial donations for the tour, which it will accept on October 1 at the Brooklyn Book Festival at the SpeakEasy Bookmobile, which will be parked on premises. All literature may be donated, TNR said, with a preference for banned and challenged books; the books will be given away in communities on the tour where access has been restricted or limited.

The tour is supported by contributions from novelist Nora Roberts and produced by Inspira Marketing. Other partners on the initiative include the American Federation of Teachers, the ALA, the African American Policy Forum, Banned Books Week, Bookshop.org, and the Urban Libraries Council.

TNR’s Banned Books Tour 2023 will embark on its journey through the following cities:

• Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Pittsburgh, Pa.
• Washington, D.C.
• Daytona, Fla.
• Miami, Fla.
• Tallahassee, Fla.
• Jacksonville, Fla.
• Norfolk, Va.
• Springfield, Mo.
• Lexington, Ky.
• Dallas, Tex.
• Austin, Tex.
• San Antonio, Tex.