ARTISTS AGAINST BOOK BANS
MoveOn has partnered with LeVar Burton to organize more than 150+ artists, entertainers, writers, and creators to sign an open letter condemning these bans as a form of censorship and a threat to all artists in every field, and calling for an end to this oppressive attack on artistic freedom.
OUr Open Letter
As artists, creators, entertainers, and activists, we recognize and are horrified by the threat of censorship in the form of book bans.
This restrictive behavior is not just antithetical to free speech and expression but has a chilling effect on the broader creative field. The government cannot and should not create any interference or dictate what people can produce, write, generate, read, listen to, or consume.
We cannot stress enough how these censorious efforts will not end with book bans. It’s only a matter of time before regressive, suppressive ideologues will shift their focus toward other forms of art and entertainment, to further their attacks and efforts to scapegoat marginalized communities, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks.
We refuse to remain silent as one creative field is subjected to oppressive bans. As artists, we must band together, because a threat to one form of art is a threat to us all.
We are calling on everyone to join us in pushing back against these book bans, support free and open creative industries—regardless of personal or ideological disagreements—and use their voice at the local level to stop these bans in their school districts. There is power in artistic freedom, and we refuse to allow draconian politicians to take that from us.
Signed,
Abigail Disney
Adam McKay
Adina Porter
Aisha Tyler
Aja Monet
Akilah Hughes
Alimi Ballard
ALOK
Alysia Reiner
Alyssa Milano
Amanda Gorman
Andie Freeman
Andy Cohen
Angie Thomas
Ann Patchett
AnnaSophia Robb
Ariana Grande
Ashly Burch
Ava Max
Ava Philippe
Barbara Joosse
Bellamy Young
Bex Taylor-Klaus
Bill Nye
Billy Porter
Brandon Dermer
Brittany O’Grady
Busy Philipps
Cara Mentzel
Cassandra Peterson
Cave In
Chad Coleman
Charlotte Clymer
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Wolfe
Chris Mosier
Chrissie Fit
Christie Brinkley
Christina Michelle
Clark Gregg
Constance Wu
Converge
Dan Andriano
DIIV
Doomrider
Dying Wish
Elaine Hendrix
Elizabeth Gillies
Ellen Barkin
Emma Roberts
Escuela Grind
Eve 6
Fatimah Asghar
Felicia Day
Gabrielle Union
Garbage
Garden Films
Garrett Russell
Gloria Steinem
Gouge Away
Grace Gaustad
Great American Ghost
Greg Grunberg
Greyhaven
Guillermo del Toro
Guy Endore-Kaiser
hate5six
Idina Menzel
Internet Today
J Smith-Cameron
Jacqueline Toboni
Jaime King
James Isaiah Muñoz
Jason Collins
Jason Ritter
Jazz Jennings
Jeff Rosenstock
Jesse Ferguson / Gale
Jessica Capshaw
Jessica Marie Garcia
Joan Jett
Jodi Picoult
Joel Birch
Joel McKinnon Miller
John Leguizamo
Jose Ramos
Judd Apatow
Judy Blume
Kaci Bolls
Karah Preiss
Kathy Najimy
Katie Rich
Kay Cannon
Kayleigh Goldsworthy
Kelly McCreary
Kelly Zutrau
Kevin Kruse
Knocked Loose
Kristin Bauer
Layne Ihde
Lea DeLaria
Leigh Bardugo
LeVar Burton
Lexi Underwood
Loung Ung
Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Madelyn Cline
Maia Kobabe
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Cho
Mark Mackillop
Mark Ruffalo
Meena Harris
Michael Ian Black
Michael Kelly
Michael Lapinski
Muggytone Productions
Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Rothwell
Nathan Meckel
Nick Adams
Nicolas Hosford
Nik Dodani
Nikki Giovanni
Old Man Gloom
Padma Lakshmi
Patton Oswalt
Pete Souza
Piper Perabo
PUP
Raquel Willis
Reshma Saujani
Richard Blanco
Rob Ackroyd
Rob Corddry
Rob Reiner
Robbie Morris
Ron Perlman
Roxane Gay
Sadie Dupuis
Samantha Ronson
Sandra Cisneros
Sarah Paulson
Sarah Sophie Flicker
Sedona Prince LLC
Shannon Downey (BACS)
Sharon Stone
Sheila B.
Simone Norman
Sofia Warren
Sophia Bush
Spencer Ackerman
Spencer Compton
Steven Pasquale
Stick To Your Guns
Storefront Church
Stray From The Path
SuburbanCrunchyGirl Andie Freeman
Sunny Hostin
Tara Strong
The Callous Daoboys
The Cybertronic Spree
Tim Guinee
Tinashe
Torrey DeVitto
Trey Bruce
Trivium
Two Minutes To Late Night
Ue3 Promotions
War On Women
Yola
Zaria Forman
Zoe Lister-Jones
Zooey Deschanel
Abigail Disney
Adam McKay
Adina Porter
Aisha Tyler
Aja Monet
Akilah Hughes
Alimi Ballard
ALOK
Alysia Reiner
Alyssa Milano
Amanda Gorman
Andie Freeman
Andy Cohen
Angie Thomas
Ann Patchett
AnnaSophia Robb
Ariana Grande
Ashly Burch
Ava Max
Ava Philippe
Barbara Joosse
Bellamy Young
Bex Taylor-Klaus
Bill Nye
Billy Porter
Brandon Dermer
Brittany O’Grady
Busy Philipps
Cara Mentzel
Cassandra Peterson
Cave In
Chad Coleman
Charlotte Clymer
Chelsea Handler
Chelsea Wolfe
Chris Mosier
Chrissie Fit
Christie Brinkley
Christina Michelle
Clark Gregg
Constance Wu
Converge
Dan Andriano
DIIV
Doomriders
Dying Wish
Elaine Hendrix
Elizabeth Gillies
Ellen Barkin
Emma Roberts
Escuela Grind
Eve 6
Fatimah Asghar
Felicia Day
Gabrielle Union
Garbage
Garden Films
Garrett Russell
Gloria Steinem
Gouge Away
Grace Gaustad
Great American Ghost
Greg Grunberg
Greyhaven
Guillermo del Toro
Guy Endore-Kaiser
hate5six
Idina Menzel
Internet Today
J Smith-Cameron
Jacqueline Toboni
Jaime King
James Isaiah Muñoz
Jason Collins
Jason Ritter
Jazz Jennings
Jeff Rosenstock
Jesse Ferguson / Gale
Jessica Capshaw
Jessica Marie Garcia
Joan Jett
Jodi Picoult
Joel Birch
Joel McKinnon Miller
John Leguizamo
Jose Ramos
Judd Apatow
Judy Blume
Kaci Bolls
Karah Preiss
Kathy Najimy
Katie Rich
Kay Cannon
Kayleigh Goldsworthy
Kelly McCreary
Kelly Zutrau
Kevin Kruse
Knocked Loose
Kristin Bauer
Layne Ihde
Lea DeLaria
Leigh Bardugo
LeVar Burton
Lexi Underwood
Loung Ung
Luvvie Ajayi Jones
Madelyn Cline
Maia Kobabe
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Cho
Mark Mackillop
Mark Ruffalo
Meena Harris
Michael Ian Black
Michael Kelly
Michael Lapinski
Muggytone Productions
Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Rothwell
Nathan Meckel
Nick Adams
Nicolas Hosford
Nik Dodani
Nikki Giovanni
Old Man Gloom
Padma Lakshmi
Patton Oswalt
Pete Souza
Piper Perabo
PUP
Raquel Willis
Reshma Saujani
Richard Blanco
Rob Ackroyd
Rob Corddry
Rob Reiner
Robbie Morris
Ron Perlman
Roxane Gay
Sadie Dupuis
Samantha Ronson
Sandra Cisneros
Sarah Paulson
Sarah Sophie Flicker
Sedona Prince LLC
Shannon Downey (BACS)
Sharon Stone
Sheila B.
Simone Norman
Sofia Warren
Sophia Bush
Spencer Ackerman
Spencer Compton
Steven Pasquale
Stick To Your Guns
Storefront Church
Stray From The Path
SuburbanCrunchyGirl Andie Freeman
Sunny Hostin
Tara Strong
The Callous Daoboys
The Cybertronic Spree
Tim Guinee
Tinashe
Torrey DeVitto
Trey Bruce
Trivium
Two Minutes To Late Night
Ue3 Promotions
War On Women
Yola
Zaria Forman
Zoe Lister-Jones
Zooey Deschanel
LeVar Burton Says Read Banned Books T-Shirt
Grab this exclusive shirt today to help us raise money to give out more banned books with our next Banned Bookmobile tour and our continued fight against extremist politicians.
Latest News
GQ: LeVar Burton Wants You to Read Banned Books
LeVar Burton & MoveOn Drop “Read Banned Books” Exclusive Shirt for National Banned Book Week
HuffPost: Hollywood Stars Sign Open Letter Condemning Book Bans From ‘Draconian Politicians’
The Root: Actors, Activists Join LaVar Burton in the Fight Against Book Bans
People: Ariana Grande, Gabrielle Union, Guillermo del Toro and Others Sign Open Letter Denouncing Book Bans
Vulture: Ariana Grande Wants Yuh to Stop Banning Books
Billboard: Ariana Grande, Guillermo del Toro & More Stars Sign Open Letter Against Book Bans
Hollywood Reporter: Ariana Grande, Guillermo del Toro, Padma Lakshmi and More Sign Open Letter Denouncing Book Bans and Their “Chilling Effect” (Exclusive)
Nearly 175 Celebs & Notable Figures Sign “Artists Against Book Bans” Statement Organized by LeVar Burton & MoveOn
The Wrap: Judy Blume, Mark Ruffalo, Ariana Grande Among Celebs Who Denounce Book Bans in Open Letter
The Independent: Ariana Grande among celebrities to denounce ‘chilling’ book bans in open letter
The Guardian: ‘Chilling’: Ariana Grande, Amanda Gorman and others sign letter against book bans
Lambgoat: Converge, Trivium, Knocked Loose, and more join fight w/ LeVar Burton against banned books
Latest News
GQ: LeVar Burton Wants You to Read Banned Books
LeVar Burton & MoveOn Drop “Read Banned Books” Exclusive Shirt for National Banned Book Week
HuffPost: Hollywood Stars Sign Open Letter Condemning Book Bans From ‘Draconian Politicians’
The Root: Actors, Activists Join LaVar Burton in the Fight Against Book Bans
People: Ariana Grande, Gabrielle Union, Guillermo del Toro and Others Sign Open Letter Denouncing Book Bans
Vulture: Ariana Grande Wants Yuh to Stop Banning Books
Billboard: Ariana Grande, Guillermo del Toro & More Stars Sign Open Letter Against Book Bans
Hollywood Reporter: Ariana Grande, Guillermo del Toro, Padma Lakshmi and More Sign Open Letter Denouncing Book Bans and Their “Chilling Effect” (Exclusive)
Nearly 175 Celebs & Notable Figures Sign “Artists Against Book Bans” Statement Organized by LeVar Burton & MoveOn
The Wrap: Judy Blume, Mark Ruffalo, Ariana Grande Among Celebs Who Denounce Book Bans in Open Letter
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