For further information, contact:

Chris Finan, American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression, chris@abffe.com, (212) 587-4025, ext. 15.

Joan Bertin, National Coalition Against Censorship, (212) 807-6222, ext. 15

Free Speech Groups Condemn Removal of Challenged Books

NEW YORK, NY, December 5, 2007 – The American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE) and the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) today condemned a decision to remove two books from the ninth grade optional reading list at Westhampton Beach High School in Westhampton Beach, NY.  The Westhampton Beach Board of Education voted 4-3 last night to remove The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult and Cradle and All by James Patterson from a list of 300 books that students can use to select reading assignments.  Some parents had objected to the inclusion of the books because of their sexual content.

“By its vote, the Westhampton school board has allowed a few parents to determine what other people’s children can read.  That is censorship,” ABFFE President Chris Finan said.  Joan Bertin, the executive director of NCAC, said the board had opened itself to multiple, possibly conflicting demands.  “While some parents object to books with sexual situations, others challenge books with religious or racial references or violent content.  By preserving access to a wide range of materials, school officials protect the rights of students and their parents to make their own choices, based on their own views and values,” she said. 

ABFFE and NCAC joined with a local bookseller, Terry Lucas of the Open Book, in opposing the removal of the books.   Lucas spoke before the school board and held a well-attended “Read-In” at her store in support of the right to read.

Founded in 1974, NCAC is an alliance of 50 national non-profit organizations, including literary, artistic, religious, educational, professional, labor, and civil liberties groups. ABFFE is the bookseller's voice in the fight against censorship.  It was founded in 1990 by the American Booksellers Association.

Click here to read the letter from ABFFE and NCAC opposing removal of the books.