Children’s future depends on what they learn today. However, across the country, legislatures have passed laws to criminalize teaching honestly about U.S. history and to restrict students’ ability to ask questions and think critically. The laws’ chilling effect reaches classrooms nationwide. Textbooks and high-stakes testing have also long distorted curricula.
In this election year, that is why educators are hosting more than 170 #TeachTruth events to challenge the media silence and encourage everyone to defend the freedom to learn.
Here are descriptions and photos from some of the events.
Alaska
Fairbanks
Educators hosted an interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table and book swap at the Juneteenth event at Bernice Allridge Park on June 15. Hosted with Learning Inside Out Network (LION), the table was so popular that they gave away all of the bookmarks and buttons. The hosts added,
We had great discussions with community members about critical thinking and book banning.
Arkansas
Helena-West Helena
Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table, discussion about banned books, and action planning to “Teach the Truth” throughout the year and county. Hosted on June 7 by the West Side Community Hub, Inc. and the Phillips County Retired Teachers Association at the Eliza Miller Junior and Senior High School Historic Site, named for educator and philanthropist Eliza Ann Ross Miller. The Teach Truth pop-up with banned books will remain on display in the library/museum.
Arizona
Phoenix
The Arizona Education Association rallied on June 5 for state education budget funding and to cut back the out of control ESA voucher spending. There were over 100 participants. Janice Dwosh, a member of Arizona Education Association-Retired, distributed Teach Banned Books buttons and the Teach Vote Organize postcards. She received an enthusiastic response, with many educators affirming the need to teach banned books and banned history.
California
Berkeley
Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at Chama o Axé, a capoeira event, at Casa de Cultura. Hosted by Capoeira Brasil East Bay and Capoeira Brasil San Francisco Peninsula in collaboration with their organizers Mestre Itaborá and Formanda Malagueta. Table host Lorin King noted,
Advocating for #TeachTruth is important to the capoeira community because the art form would not have existed if not for the resistance taken by enslaved Africans to create and continue this martial art through generations despite the institution of slavery, anti-Black legislation in the wake of abolishment of slavery, and structural and systemic racism. How can resistance be understood if people do not learn the true history of the slavery in the Americas and what was being resisted and the cost of that resistance?
Santa Clara
The interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at the Santa Clara Farmers Market was popular on June 8. The organizers added information about examples of systemic racism and data about representation in children’s books.
Connecticut
New Haven
Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table, book swap, and teach-in at the Possible Futures Bookstore, hosted by the Anti-Racist Teaching and Learning Collective on June 8.
District of Columbia
The D.C. Area Educators for Social Justice hosted interactive Teach Truth pop-up display tables on June 8 at the following locations.
It was a quiet morning at this location. Two teachers from out of town were pleased to learn about the campaign.
Ward 8 Farmers Market
Among the people who stopped to talk were a Lakota woman who was very excited to learn about the book Fry Bread and about Teaching for Change’s collaboration with the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). And a man who works for an environmental organization was thrilled to learn about the Zinn Education Project climate crisis timeline.
Capital Pride Festival
Hundreds of people stopped by the booth hosted by the DC Area Educators for Social Justice at the Capital Pride Festival on June 9. The table featured the pop-up display for the Teach Truth Day of Action and additional resources from Teaching for Change and Rethinking Schools. People of all ages enjoyed reading the banned books in the display. On seeing Fry Bread and And Tango Makes Three, many commented that they did not realize some of their favorite books were facing bans or challenges.
Loyalty Bookstore
Due to the heat of the afternoon, the Loyalty Bookstore in Petworth staff kindly allowed the table to be set up inside. It was staffed by teachers from Bruce-Monroe at Parkview Elementary School and the staff person that day at Loyalty Books is a high school English teacher in Maryland — so the afternoon was full of discussions about K–12 schools.
Francis Gregory Neighborhood Library
Esther Productions, Inc., Spoken Word, and the Francis Gregory Neighborhood Library hosted an interactive Teach Truth pop-up display, book swap, discussion, and reading by author Carolivia Herron of her banned book, Nappy Hair on June 8. Door prizes and light refreshments were provided.
Pride Parade
Spur Local marched in the 2024 Capital Pride Parade holding up #TeachTruth signs, with thousands of people out showing support, as part of our larger message of supporting local nonprofits like Teaching for Change and building collective infrastructure for long-term change.
Poetry for the People
The Theater Alliance hosted a Poetry for the People: The June Jordan Experience show and a pre-show interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table on June 8 at Dance Place.
Florida
Miami
West Palm Beach
Compass LGBTQ+ Community Center host an interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at the Delray Beach Pride Street Festival and Pride 5K, Health & Wellness Expo on June 8. Both tables saw hundreds of people that got to learn more about the book bans, anti-history education laws, and local LGBTQ+ resources, including a queer library within Compass.
Georgia
Atlanta
Event coordinator and high school teacher Sally Stanhope wrote, “On June 15, we first gathered at Bethsaida Baptist Church, the oldest structure in Shermantown, a historic black community adjacent to Stone Mountain, the largest Confederate Monument in the world. We began with a gallery walk where participants of a week long program ‘In the Shadow of Stone Mountain: Historicizing Shermantown’ shared their research in a variety of ways. Students presented their video, slides, posters, and interviews. The topics they addressed included: the role the Ku Klux Klan and its members played in Shermantown, interracial alliances at the Stone Mountain quarries in 1888 and 1891 for higher pay, the educational experiences of Shermantown residents before and after integration, Black entrepreneurship in Stone Mountain, the laws that protect Confederate monuments, the unpaid prison labor that built Stone Mountain Park and growing up as a Black man in Stone Mountain. Concluding this part of the day, there was a youth panel where participants of the ‘In the Shadow of Stone Mountain’ answered questions from the audience. Then we walked to downtown Stone Mountain and joined the city’s Juneteenth celebration. We sponsored a table that shared information about teaching the truth, banned books, the Celebration of the Dream Art Contest, and the untold stories of Stone Mountain. Mayor Jones, the first Black woman mayor of Stone Mountain invited one of the students to speak at the ceremony.”
Illinois
Chicago
The George Hall Organizing Branch of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) held a discussion on African American education prior to 1861. They also discussed the current attack on teaching truthfully, drawing on the information in the interactive #TeachTruth display.
Schaumburg
Peyton Consulting LLC hosted an information table at Summer Youth-led Pow Wow and Northwest Pridefest at the Trickster Cultural Center on June 22 and June 29.
Iowa
Iowa City
Iowans for Youth & Truth held a rally at historic College Green Park on June 8. There was live music, a book exchange, interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table, a postcard station, a chance to pledge to teach the truth and defend LGBTQ+ rights, and opportunities to network and strategize. Read more in an article about the day of action in Bleeding Heartland.
Kansas
Kansas City
Thank you for the strong support we need to commit to #TeachTruth in KC about genocide, white supremacy, classism, homophobia, transphobia, sexism and the communities that fight back! @ZinnEdProject pic.twitter.com/p6ZD5LtD8y
— SURJ KC (@SURJ_KC) June 11, 2024
The event began in the auditorium of the KCKPL Main Library where participants learned from local Palestinian-American organizers. From there, participants heard about the history and present day efforts to protect the Wyandot burial grounds. Then participants walked to a space outside Sumner High School and heard a speaker from Justice for Wyandotte share the ways that policing in and outside of local schools impacts Black students and students of color. The walk ended at Kinship Cafe, a Black-owned local business, where participants could purchase delicious food and drinks. It was a powerful, #TeachTruth day of action. Participants got real knowledge that, due to political attacks on teachers and students, it can feel illegal to teach in school.
Read more.
Event co-host Michael Rebne wrote:
Participants learned from Al-Hadaf how British colonialism, the Nakba,the Naksa, and apartheid under Israel all preceded Oct. 7th attacks and the genocide in Palestine. Participants were taught we have to know history, though not every statistical fact, in order to take action to save lives by standing up to politicians whose ethics have been hollowed out by Stand With Israel propaganda.
Participants learned how the sacred Wyandot burial grounds (“Huron” cemetery includes a racist term) are still being desecrated, though their leaders try mightily to protect it. The Wyandots, after having their land stolen and victims of genocide by the U.S. were the only non-Black community in the area willing to bury deceased African American Civil War soldiers.
Participants learned how Roger Golubski and the KCK police department preyed on Black community members, including children and how teachers’ language can have a profound impact on how potential predators see the kids. How the binary of good kid/bad kid makes them more vulnerable and only uplifts one narrow type of intelligence, and that to experience cops as safe is a very privileged position.
Then participants learned from Connie Brown Collins that there is a clear throughline from Jim Crow-era white supremacy to present day rightwing attacks on 2SLGBTQIA rights, public schools, voting rights, and school funding and that even our democratic governor Governor Laura Kelly is willing to let Republican devised anti-Black legislation through that makes some ways of valuing diversity illegal in Kansas colleges.
Finally participants were able to share refreshments and food together and exchange banned books by authors that write about everything above and more. People schemed for the future and know as teachers, parents, community members of all ages that a better democracy and future is possible. Co-sponsors include Al-Hadaf KC, Brothers Liberating Our Communities, Latinx Education Collaborative, Kinship Cafe, NEA Shawnee Mission Social Justice Committee, NEA-Kansas City, KS, Thula B., Wyandotte High School PTSA, Voting Rights Network of Wyandotte County. Participants were encouraged to bring used books for a “banned books” swap.
Louisiana
Baton Rouge
The NEA Black Caucus held it’s leadership conference in Baton Rouge, Lousiana. They shared the interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table on June 7 and on the Teach Truth Day of Action (June 8), more than 90 participants visited the Whitney Plantation. The event organizer wrote, “A 90-minute tour shared from the perspective of the enslaved was overwhelming, and emotional. Being that upclose in spaces where folks were poorly treated, dehumanized, overworked, and undervalued was hard to experience. The joy in the event was knowing that WE are our ancestors wildest dreams.”
Maryland
Annapolis
A dynamic event was hosted by Key School, featuring a diverse range of activities. It began with opening remarks by County Executive Pittman, followed by the distribution of books collected through the Dream Big Book Drive. Attendees immersed themselves in music, informative displays, and expressed gratitude to authors at a letter writing station. Attendees also engaged in captivating read-aloud sessions, unleashed their creativity with chalk drawing, and made lasting memories. The event was hosted at Lawyers Mall on June 8.
Showing Up for Racial Justice Annapolis and Anne Arundel County (SURJ3A) had a table at the Annapolis Juneteenth Festival on June 22 where they had conversations about the #TeachTruth movement, banned books, Black history, and “Tell Your White Friends about SURJ!” The organizers wrote, “The banned book display was a hit. Our goals to connect, learn, and share information about how we offer a space for white people fighting for racial and economic justice with accountability and action were met.”
Massachusetts
Dorchester
More than 200 participants at the Full-Service Community Schools Summit on June 8 checked out the interative Teach Truth display. Ricardo Rosa of the Massachusetts Teachers Association noted, “Full-service community schools cannot be pursued without seriously considering a strong and culturally sustaining curriculum — one that centers the voices and experiences of those who bear the most social cost.” The event was hosted by the Massachusetts Teachers Association, Massachusetts Educational Justice Alliance, Boston Teachers Union, and the American Federation of Teachers.
Florence
For the second year, the Odyssey Bookshop, Mount Holyoke College, and the Sojourner Truth Memorial Park/David Ruggles Center hosted a Teach Truth event at the Sojourner Truth Memorial Park and provided tickets for attendees to participate in the Founder’s Day Celebration featuring historian Nell Irvin Painter.
Holyoke
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The Mount Holyoke DEI Office partnered with the Odyssey Bookshop and MHC LITS to host their second annual Teach Truth Day of Action, coordinated by the Zinn Education Project and the National Education Association (NEA). They hosted the rally at the Sojourner Truth Memorial in Florence (see above) and the Odyssey in the Village Commons. The hosted reported, “These events on June 9 and June 17 brought together students, faculty, and staff to support the “Freedom To Learn” movement, to speak out against the banning of books and the anti-DEI, anti-history and anti-LGBT bills. Be sure to support banned authors and buy banned books!”
Michigan
Farmington
There was a historic walking tour from Nardin Park to City Hall with speakers along the way uplifting local Black history and advocating for the introduction of the Free Our History: CEO African American History Bill.
Nevada
Las Vegas
College of Southern Nevada (CSN) campus libraries hosted an interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at two locations. It was co-hosted by CSN Members of the Antiracist Book Club, CSN Gender & Sexuality Alliance, CSN Women’s Alliance, and the CSN Education Department on June 4 at the West Charleston Library and June 5 and 6 at the North Las Vegas Library.
Las Vegas
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Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at Tofu Tees, hosted by a school librarian and chapter co-chair of Defense of Democracy on June 8. The event was hosted by four Vegas Valley public school librarians. The event hosts reported,
We met at Tofu Tees, a locally owned business started by a young woman of color who is 15. We had over 50 people come to downtown Las Vegas’s local hipster spot, Fergusons. This day was about awareness, compassion, love, education, and community. We were honored and humbled to be a part of the Zinn Education Project’s 4th Annual Teach Truth Day of Action.
New Jersey
Montclair
AAPI New Jersey had a table at Out Montclair’s Pride Festival, the largest in New Jersey. The hosts reported that, “We had over 200 people visit our table and many were surprised that these books were being challenged or banned. A teacher who was familiar with a couple of the titles, including Fry Bread, was excited to see them out.”
Ocean City
Two educators hosted a banned book table at the Ocean City Pride Fest on June 1. The table was visited by educators, pastors, health care professionals, parents, children, people of all colors and ethnicities, the LGBTQ+ community, and more. Table hosts Michelle Greenling and Shannon O’Neal said,
There was a great deal of support for our cause, and many individuals were eager to learn more about the Zinn Education Project. We had a table full of banned books and informational material, and “photo booth” promoting access to truth and literature. People also filled out papers explaining their views on teaching history and truth and its necessity for a more just future.
Orange
Orange High School teachers Andrew Worthington and Dan Strauss, along with several students, set up a Banned Book display in the school’s library for the month of June.
Paterson
Teach-in Centering Palestine at the Art Factory Studio. The event began with lunch, followed by a documentary and educational/informational workshops. Hosted by MapSO Freedom School, Teaching While Muslim, Decolonizing the Classroom, and other organizations on June 8.
Teaneck
Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at the Teaneck Public Library on June 8. Shae Lewis and TS Murphy hosted the table with the Zinn Education Project materials and others loaned from the THS Media Center. They noted,
We had to fight the wind, which literally blew away everything we had set-up several times. We spoke with many people coming to the library who knew very little about the widespread book banning. We gave them the Teach Banned Books buttons and postcards as a reminder of this crisis.
Tenafly
Exhibit for teens at Tenafly High School.
New Mexico
Albuquerque
Information table, photo frames, and banned book giveaway at Lomas Tramway Library, hosted by the Rio Rancho Teaching for Black Lives Study Group on June 8. The event host resported,
Roughly 30 people stopped by, and approximately 60 books were distributed. Everyone was so encouraging and supportive of the work. Everyone who stopped said they were registered voters and many were teachers or former teachers. One teacher just quit his job at a local charter school because the board and PTO removed a bunch of books from his room. He chose to quit so even in New Mexico some of this is happening. I shared the data from the American Library Association on the uptick on titles being challenged and people were shocked by the numbers but not the trend. They pointed out where they believed it was all coming from ultra-conservative Christian nationalist groups and many said they see this as one step in a bigger plan. Many expressed concern about the direction of the country.
New York
Brooklyn
The event organizers reported:
On Saturday, June 1, 2024, in the school yard of P.S. 261K, the Zipporiah Mills School, our Teaching for Black Lives Study Group members were ready to greet and respond to folx who came to our #TeachTruth Day of Action information table. Our table was part of the annual Rainbow Run school event, sponsored by our student “True Colors” club and our Parent-Teacher Association. Hundreds of students, families, friends, and visitors came to celebrate diversity on the first day of Pride Month. We called to everyone walking by, ‘Come over to our table. Let us tell you about banned books and banned history.’ Visitors had lots of comments, including:
I did not know this book was banned.
Why is the Fry Bread banned?
Are the titles in the Banned Book Basket for sale?
I love When Aidan Became a Brother.
The throwback music from the 1970s and 1980s filled the air as we danced the Macarena, watched the children run or walk laps around the school track, cartwheel around, eat, and feel the vibes of diversity. Protecting the teaching of our country’s true history, with photo frames and speech bubble cut-outs that the fifth grade students created, gave purpose and made our day. Hundreds of folx of all ages attended the event and browsed, stopped by and even purchased some of the banned books that Lee & Low provided for our information table. It was a memorable, uplifting day for all and for teaching the truth in education.
Jamaica
The St. Albans Congregational Church, UCC: Education Committee hosted an interactive Teach Truth Day of Action pop-up display table at the Addisleigh Park Day on June 8. The photo shows Queens Borough President Donovan Richards Jr. with table host Sheryl Leverett.
Rochester
The Norman Howard School’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) Committee hosted an interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table and book swap at the Rochester Public Market on June 8. So many people came to the table that they ran out of buttons. The event hosts noted,
Many people who stopped by were teachers and/or librarians. The vast majority of people appreciated our work and were in support of what we were doing. Many people were shocked to hear that there have been two book bans in our state recently.
We had a box of free banned books that drew many people in to visit and learn about what we were doing.They looked at the box first and then stopped to see the exhibit and hear what we had to say.
Syracuse
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Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at Parthenon Books. Hosted by Camillus Teaching for Black Lives study group and UMOJA students on June 8. The event hosts reported,
There was a steady flow of people during our two hour event. Two women visited that had searched the list of event locations on the map to find the closest pop-up display. They traveled to us from Binghamton, New York which is about 75 miles away.
North Carolina
Asheville
Save Our Schools Rally at Pack Square Park, in the heart of downtown Asheville, hosted by Buncombe County Association of Educators. On June 6, over 100 public school staff, parents, students, and community members came together to rally for the freedom to learn. The event hosts wrote,
Our schools are in crisis, with a looming budget deficit that would result in over 150 position cuts from Buncombe County Schools. At the rally, we heard from students, parents, and educators about the importance for students to have access to mental health staff and continued programming that they deserve, regardless of their zip code. Attendees also wrote dozens of postcards to be delivered to our county commission with the plea for fully funding our school board’s request so that our schools will not lose programming and desperately needed staff.
Ohio
Cleveland
The Cleveland NAACP Education Committee, Cleveland Teachers Union, and Honesty for Ohio Education hosted an event on June 8 at the Cleveland Public Library. They began with a “Read Flash Mob” in the reading garden located next to the library. Then, participants entered the library to tables of free banned books (and banned library books available for checking out), alongside the interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table. The Cleveland Teachers Union provided hundreds of banned books, courtsey of the American Federation of Teachers. The participants were thrilled when they saw the huge selection, and especially when they were told, “take as many as you want.” The program opened with the group singing a song written by event organizer Meryl Johnson to the tune of Are you Sleeping?
Teach the truth, teach the truth
We won’t lie, we won’t lie
We won’t whitewash history
Slavery’s not a mystery
No books burned, freedom to learn
This was followed by a poetry presentation by Cleveland’s poet laureate, a “Why This Matters” talk from the District 11 teacher of the year, a speech from a college student, and a presentation from Freedom Rider Joan Mulholland. Read “‘We have to teach the truth:’ Cleveland NAACP hosts rally to protect honesty, inclusivity in education.”
Rocky River
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Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table and book swap hosted by Rocky River Black Lives Matter, West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church, and youth during the Rocky River Black Lives Matter’s weekly protest in front of the River Square shopping center, near Whole Foods on June 8. Their invitation invited attendees to:
Bring your beloved books by Black, Indigenous, people of color, LGBTQ+, and Palestinian American writers to swap. Banned books and books for youth or young adults are highly encouraged! Our table will have information about the importance of teaching the truth about structural racism, sexism, and increasing representation in books and school curricula.
The event host noted,
Sixteen people participated. One was a teacher who saw our signs and pulled over for more information. Another person was incredulous that book bans are 1) even considered legal in this country, and 2) actually happening. She kept saying, “they should fight back. It’s a violation of the first amendment.” I shared the Zinn Education Project materials for learning more and getting involved. We had five children at the table who were holding signs and sharing information.
Toledo
Book swap and interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at Black Kite Coffee. June 8. During the plant and book swap, there were approximately twelve people who attended and visited the table. We shared a brief discussion on critical thinking and banned books across the nation.
Youngstown
On this 60th anniversary of Freedom Summer, Mahoning Valley Sojourn hosted a #TeachTruth Freedom School from June 17-21 with art, author visits, writing, dance, and a picnic. Presenters incude Alice Lynd, Cherie Eldridge, Dynamo Flapdoodle, AU Dance Company, Karen Schubert, Keith Lamar, and Vince Shivers. Read about the first day in an article in The Vindicator.
Oregon
Milwaukie
Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at Spoke and Word Bookstore on June 8.
Portland
Screening and discussion of CURRENT: A Descendant’s Journey for Truth documentary hosted by the author on June 9. Each person committed to telling and teaching the truth in their own ways in their individual settings.
Pennsylvania
Lancaster
Pockets Book Shop in collaboration with Lancaster Friends School. Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table and storytime on June 8. With help from host Pocket Books, Lancaster Friends School staffed a table with a variety of banned books and ZEP materials. There were three Lancaster Friends School teachers, and community members and patrons came and browsed and discussed throughout the day. They featured a press conference with four speakers: a teacher from Lancaster Friends School, Peggy Bright; two award winning librarians who spoke about censorship, Matthew Good and Cathi Fuhrman; and a candidate for state senate who opposes book bans, Trex Proffitt.
Puerto Rico
San Juan
Puerto Rican Matter(s) Group placed an information table at Callejón Del Carmen, in Río Piedras, Puerto Rico on June 8. The pop-up coincided with the artisan’s market and the space was full of people displaying their art and of customers. The hosts reported,
We directly impacted over sixty individuals who stopped at the table and received information about Teach the Truth Day of Action and about the Zinn Education Project initiative. We also collected signatures for the PS1282 Ley contra el discrimen por razones de cabello, and had a display of Puerto Rican and USA banned books.
Many visitors were surprised as they did not know about all the repression that is going on in and out the island. We connected with an ally, “Otro Puerto Rico es Posible” that is working against gentrification in Puerto Rico and wants to join our group. We also gave away the mini book “Carla Feliz” which is about a trans girl. This short story was censored and we were able to print it and distribute it to everyone that visited the information table. We distributed copies of the Spanish version of the Black Lives Matter 13 Principles mini coloring book. In addition, we had the Butai with the Kamishibai story “La Chivita” about inclusion and diversity. As a group, we felt very satisfied with the outcomes of the day and we are more confident, than ever, that social change is possible and that, Si Se Puede!
Texas
Cypress
Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at Lone Star College Cy-Fair Library hosted by Cy-Fair TSTA on June 8. The organizers noted,
The greater portion of visitors were educators, who were very supportive of our cause. There was a consensus that everyone should have the freedom of choice and that it should not be restricted, limited, or denied.
Odessa
Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at Basin Pride Festival, hosted by Ector County TSTA on Saturday, June 8. Overall, there were about 500 people throughout the day-long event. The event host noted,
We were very busy all day teaching our truth. Ector County TSTA made allies with the local PFLAG chapter to help further educate the community about our literature.
Utah
Ogden
An interactive #TeachTruth pop-up display was featured at the Ogden NAACP booth during the Ogden Juneteenth festival on June 15 and 16. Several visitors wanted to know more about what to do in response to the book banning, there was a child who loved Fry Bread, and people expressed appreciation that the table was bringing awareness about the book bans and chilling effect.
Salt Lake City
Teachers attending the College Board AP Essay scoring on June 8 in Utah hosted a Teach Truth gathering outside the convention center. The event organizer noted,
Hundreds of teachers from all over the country came to read for AP College Board exams- everyone loved talking about their state and what was or was not happening! They loved the buttons and put them on as soon as I gave them out! As soon as teachers saw my table they screamed ‘YESSSSSS!!’ Teachers are rebellious rock stars!!!
Vermont
Waterbury
Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at Bridgeside Books, was hosted by Bridgeside Books with the Waterbury Area Anti-Racist Coalition, on June 8. The event organizer noted,
The rain brought many people into the bookstore! It was a wonderful opportunity to speak with community members about the dangers of “quiet-censorship” (what can happen when educators are not given support and/or do not yet have the courage to teach the truth). We also connected with others around the upcoming draft equity policy for our local school district that the Waterbury Area Anti-Racism Coalition is supporting.
Winooski
The event organizer noted,
We had a table in our school lobby during high school lunch. Around 120 staff students passed by on their way to and from the cafeteria. We focused on showing banned LGBTQ books in recognition of Pride month. A few highlights: One teacher was not aware and was surprised that the book The Bluest Eye was even banned. A trans student was engrossed in my copy of Gender Queer, and borrowed it after. They came to me later and said the book was eye opening for them and was happy to feel a connection to the author’s experiences. Students could not understand why the Wilma Rudolph story was a banned story, in fact one student was really mad at the idea of people trying to hide the story.
Virginia
Blacksburg
The Montgomery County Democratic Committee hosted a teach truth pop-up display table at the annual Spring Fling on June 8th. Many Blacksburg Middle School teachers were present to support the effort. They added extra books and a high school student engaged people in conversations about Teach Truth and book banning. The event organizer noted,
Around 65 people attended the event, most of them were shocked at how many of the books on the banned list were ones they had read themselves.
Charlottesville
Interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at the Charlottesville Farmers Market on June 8. The Teach Truth Day of Action table was well received at the Charlottesville IX Art Park Farmers Market. The event organizer noted,
Dozens of families at the market interacted with the table, and children loved the books and stickers. Many educators stopped by in support, including one person who said, “no books should be banned.” We agree! And all the informational materials were handed out to patrons of the market. Some teenagers stopped by to talk about their favorite banned books, and they summed it up best — “We love banned books!”
Fredericksburg
Members of the Fredericksburg Education Association hosted an interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table at Fredericksburg Farmers Market on June 8. Event host John Ferrara reported that people were interested in learning about why certain books were banned. One visitor expressed surprise to see the picture book Fry Bread among the banned or challenged titles since they had read it in school.
Goochland
Table at the Goochland Democratic Committee Early Voting Site on June 8.
Washington
Bainbridge Island
The Bainbridge Island School District Multicultural Advisory Council, in collaboration with Kitsap Erace Coalition, Kitsap Regional Library, BI Erace, and Living Life Arts Heritage, hosted the interactive Teach Truth display and a museum tour at the Bainbridge History Museum on June 8.
Seattle
City University School of Education educators hosted an interactive Teach Truth pop-up display at all five campuses in Washington.
During Seattle’s Ban Bombs Not Books event for #TeachTruth, we heard how Seattle schools are threatened with closures due to a budget deficit meanwhile our taxes are funding the bombing of schools in Gaza.
Thanks to @ZinnEdProject for the pop-up display! pic.twitter.com/SX7Jxvwqex— Seattle Caucus of Rank-and-file Educators (@SeattleCORE206) June 9, 2024
The Seattle Caucus of Rank and File Educators hosted a Ban Bombs Not Books event at Columbia Park. There was a read-in, speakers, bookmark making, the intereactive display, and more on June 8.
Wisconsin
Milwaukee
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The interactive Teach Truth pop-up display was shared at the Wisconsin Democratic State Convention to educate potential candidates and event-goers about book bans in the state and educators’ efforts to teach truth. Hosted by the Wisconsin Education Association Council and WEAC – Retired Educators.
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The America’s Black Holocaust Museum Education Department hosted a interactive Teach Truth pop-up display table and special drop-in tour on June 8. The tour focused on the importance of historical truth-telling and how the museum continually contributes to the vision of a more just and equitable society. Event announcement.
International
Germany, Ramstein Air Force Base
The information table was well received at the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center on Ramstein AFB, Germany. The event organizer noted, “About 20 people stopped by the table and said they were shocked at what kind of content or even how little of the content in the book it takes for it to get challenged.”
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