NEW YORK, NY. October 16, 2023 — The New Republic, a media organization dedicated to addressing today’s most critical issues, confirmed their Banned Books Tour–an inspiring new initiative aimed at championing the First Amendment and combating censorship–will proudly visit the city of Dallas on Wednesday, October 25. Dallas will be the penultimate stop during the final leg of the successful month-long tour.

The tour, which launched in the beginning of October to coincide with the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week, which ran from October 1 to 7, has been a groundbreaking journey that has taken TNR’s mission on the road; spreading awareness of the importance of the freedom to read to communities across the United States. The TNR Bookmobile, a symbol of literary liberation, has visited states that have experienced some of the highest incidences of book censorship, including Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, with plans to stop in Missouri and Kentucky before wrapping the tour in Texas.

Coordinated in partnership with the American Federation of Teachers, The African American Policy Forum, the Dallas Public Library and the City of Dallas, the TNR Bookmobile will be stationed at The Sound at Cypress Waters from 4pm to 7pm and open to the public, with a keen focus on elementary-level readers and their families, educators and the librarian community. Attendees will be encouraged to sign up for library cards, and families will receive up to five free books, with educators receiving up to ten books.

Produced by Inspira Marketing, The New Republic’s “festival on wheels” is a transformative experience, forging connections with local communities, renowned authors, bookstores, libraries, and civic leaders, all united in celebrating the fundamental right to read. This visionary endeavor–which also received significant contributions from bestselling author Nora Roberts–marks a pivotal moment in our ongoing commitment to safeguarding intellectual freedom and the dissemination of diverse ideas.

We are excited to visit the city of Dallas, and extend our heartfelt appreciation to our esteemed partners who have made this mission possible, including:

The American Federation of Teachers

The American Federation of Teachers is a union of professionals that champions fairness; democracy; economic opportunity; and high-quality public education, health care and public services for our students, their families, and our communities. To learn more about AFT’s work and AFT’s Real Solutions for Kids and Communities campaign, visit AFT.org.

The African American Policy Forum 

The African American Policy Forum (AAPF) is an innovative and intersectional think tank which launched the From Freedom Riders to Freedom Readers: Books Unbanned campaign in October 2022 to increase critical literacy, voter engagement, and understanding of how the suppression of knowledge renders us unable to confront inequality. Visit aapf.org/truthbetold for more information.