The Return to Sender exhibition conveys that the prison itself is censorship, which is multifaceted and complex. Thus, the only way to put an end to prison censorship entirely is by putting an end to prisons. In the meantime, there are nearly 2 million people in U.S. jails and prisons daily who need access to books & information.

Join us in-person in New York on October 7 as part of Banned Books Week (October 1-7) to discuss prison censorship and to take actions against it. Activities will take place at the People’s Forum, 320 West 37th Street (between 8th & 9th Avenues), from 12 to 6 PM ET.

MASKS ARE REQUIRED IN THE SPACE WHERE WE’LL BE GATHERED. They will be provided on site to those who don’t have one.

The Return to Sender exhibition is at EFA Project Space, 323 West 39th Street (2nd floor), which is just a couple of blocks away from the People’s Forum, so make it a point to stop by there too!

Program

Noon to 1 pm - Creative activity - join us for a fun button making session! Fire up your creative side & create anti-censorship buttons. All supplies will be provided. For all ages. Kids under 8 should be accompanied by an adult caregiver.

1:30 to 3:30 pm - Prison Library Support Network (PLSN) Volunteer Training - https://plsn-reference.tumblr.com/update

3:30 to 6 pm - Mini Zine Fair & Banned Book Exchange (featuring zines by incarcerated people or including their art/writing): NYPL Jail & Prison Services (confirmed), Project NIA (confirmed), PEN America (to confirm), Sick of It! (confirmed), others to come

Banned Book Exchange

Do you like to read? It’s likely that you have books that have been banned in U.S. prisons and jails in your collection? Want to trade some of those books for other banned books? If yes, stop by. Bring up to 3 books to trade. If you bring a book, you can take one. If you bring 2, then you can take 2 etc…

Curious about the kinds of books that are banned in some prisons and jails? See this list by the Marshall Project