Raskin and Schatz Fight Back Against MAGA Book Bans and Attacks on First Amendment Rights of the Free Press and of Citizens in Schools, Libraries and Museums

WASHINGTON, D.C.— Representative Jamie Raskin?(MD-08) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced a resolution standing strong for the American freedom to read, write and learn. The lawmakers’ resolution condemns MAGA’s escalating campaign of book bans in school libraries and censorship targeting the Smithsonian Institution and other public museums, parks and facilities. The lawmakers’ resolution specifically cites book bans issued by the Trump Administration, MAGA state legislatures, local libraries and schools across America. This year, federal officials, at the direction of President Trump, censored books and educational materials at the Smithsonian Institution and Department of Defense Education Activity schools. “The freedom to read, write and think independently are all rights enshrined in the First Amendment to our Constitution,” said Rep. Raskin. "MAGA’s book bans and censorship campaigns seek to control the freedom of thought in schools, libraries and government, but we are fighting back against this authoritarian assault on free expression and American democracy.” “Any attempt to ban books because someone has an ideological disagreement or doesn’t believe in capturing the full scope of history is un-American,” said Senator Schatz. “Freedom of expression is a founding principle of our country, and it's up to all of us to stand up against these attacks on this fundamental right.” More than 12,000 individual books were banned in America between July 2025 and June 2026, according to a report by PEN America. This includes books like “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison and “MARCH” by former Congressman and Civil Rights Movement hero John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell. PEN America’s report captures the proliferation of MAGA book bans that specifically target books written by and about outsiders and individuals from marginalized backgrounds. Books with LGBTQ+ characters or themes face a disproportionate risk of being banned. According to PEN America, from July 2025 to June 2026, 24 States across the country limited access to certain books, including— Texas, where at least 8,000 books in total have been banned or restricted in 45 school districts; Florida, where at least 3,000 books in total have been banned or restricted in 35 school districts; Ohio, where at least 115 books in total have been banned or restricted in one school district; Utah, where at least 100 books in total have been banned or restricted in five school districts; and Michigan, where at least 65 books in total have been banned or restricted in two school districts. The resolution is endorsed by PEN America and the American Library Association (ALA); Authors Against Banned Books; Banned Books Week Coalition; Center for American Progress; EdTrust; EveryLibrary; Freedom to Learn Foundation; Florida Freedom to Read Project; Freedom to Read Project; Hatchette Book Group; Interfaith Alliance; JCRC of Greater Washington; Jewish Community Relations Council of Portland; Jewish Council for Public Affairs; Jewish Federation of Greater Rochester; Lee & Low Books ; Let Utah Read; Macmillan Publishers; National Coalition Against Censorship; National Council of Teachers of English; National Education Association; Penguin Random House; PFLAG National; Red Wine and Blue Education Fund; Simon & Schuster; Texas Freedom to Read Project; and the Tucson Jewish Museum & Holocaust Center. The resolution is cosponsored in the House by Representatives Joyce Beatty (OH-03), Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Andre Carson (IN-07), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), Judy Chu (CA-28), Yvette Clarke (NY-09), Emmanuel Cleaver (MO-5), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny Davis (IL-07), Madeleine Dean (PA-04), Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mark DeSaulnier (CA-10), Maxine Dexter (OR-03), Sarah Elfreth (MD-03), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Dwight Evans (PA-03), Valerie Foushee (NC-04), Maxwell Frost (FL-10), Robert Garcia (CA-42), Adelita Grijalva (AZ-07), Jahana Hayes (CT-05), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Glenn Ivey (MD-04), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Julie Johnson (TX-32), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (CA-37), Tim Kennedy (NY-26), Raja Krishnamoorthi (IL-08), Summer Lee (PA-12), Teresa Leger Fernández (NM-03), Ted Lieu (CA-36), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Betty McCollum (MN-04), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), Grace Meng (NY-06), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Scott Peters (CA-50), Brittany Pettersen (CO-07), Chellie Pingree (ME-01), Mark Pocan (WI-02), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Andrea Salinas (OR-06), Mary Gay Scanlon (PA-05), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Terri Sewell (AL-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), Mark Takano (CA-39), Shri Thanedar (MI-13), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jill Tokuda (HI-02), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Nikema Williams (GA-05) and Frederica Wilson (FL-24). The resolution is cosponsored in the Senate by Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Angus King (I-ME), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), John Fetterman (D-PA) and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). Read the full text of the resolution here . ###