Pop Musician Pink announced that she will be giving away 2,000 banned books at all of her Florida concerts last week. Due to the onslaught of book bans that affected communities throughout Florida, more people are taking a stand against the issue, including artist Pink who has advocated the reading of these banned books.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 18, 2023
By Vaneti Ceus
MIAMI- Pink recently collaborated with PEN America to fight against book bans in the U.S. Through an Instagram post on November 11, she announced that she plans to give away 2,000 banned books at her concerts in Miami and Sunrise.
Prior to the 1970s, books were banned from schools and libraries for centuries as a way to limit the propagation of obscene and sexually explicit materials. In the late 1970s, the idea of what books were considered inappropriate changed–book bans had instead shifted to attacking the ideologies expressed in books. Today, nearly 6,000 books have been banned since the fall of 2021. Research conducted by by PEN America shows that books about race, racism, and LGBTQ identities are disproportionately affected by book bans, as are books by Black and LGBTQ authors.
“It’s especially hateful to see authorities take aim at books about racism and race and against LGBTQ authors and those of color,” said Pink in a statement. “We have made so many strides toward equality in this country and no one should want to see this progress reversed. This is why I am supporting PEN America in its work and why I agree with them: no more banned books”.
Over the last two years, the harsh laws and bills regarding book bans in Florida and other states have challenged the First Amendment.Since 2022, book bans have risen by 33% nationally and Florida accounts for more than 40% of all documented book bans. Over the past two years, Florida has recorded 1,406 book bans in public school classrooms and libraries.
At her concerts, Pink distributed copies of “The Family Book” by Todd Parr, “The Hill We Climb” by Amanda Gorman, “Beloved” by Toni Morrison, and “Girls Who Code” by Reshma Saujani.
PEN America has partnered with Pink to actualize her 2,000-book initiative.
Director of the Media Relations team at Teens for Press Freedom Fabiha Khanam states, “Book bans are systematically targeting LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities. The banning of books is silencing identities. We need more people to speak out about the injustice and prejudice against books. Pink and her activism for book bans, makes us one step closer into protecting our first Amendment rights”.
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