Read Freely Alabama

10/20/2026

Join us at 6:00 this Thursday at The Selma Social for dinner and a community conversation about what is happening to Alabama's public libraries. Discussion will cover:

➡️ What books are being stripped from library shelves in Alabama?
➡️ Why are books like Angie Thomas's "The Hate U Give" and Toni Morrison's "The Bluest Eye" being targeted?
➡️ Who is orchestrating the attack on libraries, accurate history about race, and diverse literature?
➡️ How to recognize disinformation
➡️ Who is leading the effort to strip funding from libraries who refuse to censor their collections?
➡️ What you can do to help defend our public libraries and the freedom to read

We will be providing dinner from Southern Groove Chicken & Waffles and goody bags for attendees, and there will be a raffle for Read Freely tshirts and a copy of "The Hate U Give."

Register here:
https://www.readfreelyalabama.org/beyond_the_book_shelf_at_the_selma_social_registration?utm_campaign=selma_social_event&utm_medium=email&utm_source=righttoreadalabama

10/15/2026

🎉 The Selma Social is hosting Read Freely Alabama for a night of community and conversation! 🎉

Join us Thursday, October 22nd at 6:00 for an evening of great food from Southern Groove and a discussion about the censorship and erasure happening in Alabama's public libraries.

Find out:
➡️ What books are being removed and why
➡️ Who is behind the push to erase the stories of marginalized people, and
➡️What you can do about it

RSVP here:

Join us at The Selma Social on Oct 22nd @ 6 PM to learn about the importance of libraries Beyond The Bookshelf!

10/13/2026

🎙️ Live from your living room– join Read Freely Alabama for a virtual town hall with Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression on Oct. 14 at 6:00 p.m. where we will be breaking down what exactly free speech is, what the First Amendment protects, and how this affects you not only at your public libraries but in all facets of your life!

We hope that through this discussion, you will have a better understanding of the First Amendment, your rights and what you can do to protect them. We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP HERE: https://www.readfreelyalabama.org/fire_foundation_for_individual_rights_and_expression_virtual_event

Busy this Wednesday? No problem– mark your calendars for these upcoming events!

Join us in-person:
➡️ Oct. 22 at the Selma Social at 6:00 p.m.

➡️ Oct. 29 at the Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library in Montgomery at 6:00 p.m.

Join us online:
🛜 Nov. 5th with Public School Strong at 6:00 p.m.

10/12/2026

🎙️ Live from your living room– join Read Freely Alabama for a virtual town hall with Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression on Oct. 14 at 6:00 p.m. where we will be breaking down what exactly free speech is, what the First Amendment protects, and how this affects you not only at your public libraries but in all facets of your life!

We hope that through this discussion, you will have a better understanding of the First Amendment, your rights and what you can do to protect them. We look forward to seeing you there!

RSVP HERE: https://www.readfreelyalabama.org/fire_foundation_for_individual_rights_and_expression_virtual_event

Busy this Wednesday? No problem– mark your calendars for these upcoming events!

Join us in-person:
➡️ Oct. 22 at the Selma Social at 6:00 p.m.

➡️ Oct. 29 at the Juliette Hampton Morgan Memorial Library in Montgomery at 6:00 p.m.

Join us online:
🛜 Nov. 5th with Public School Strong at 6:00 p.m.

Read Freely Alabama is a network of locally-focused library advocacy groups.

10/09/2026

🛜 Join RFA from the comfort of your living room for a virtual town hall with F.I.R.E. (Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression) on Oct. 14 at 6:00 p.m.

We will be discussing:

➡️ What exactly is free speech?
➡️ What speech the First amendment does and does not cover
➡️ First Amendment protections for accessing library materials
➡️ Speaking at public meetings
➡️ Right to protest and assembly
➡️ Right to record
➡️ Commenting on government-led social media pages
➡️ How to defend your rights as well as what to do when your rights are violated

We look forward to seeing you there!
Register here:
https://www.readfreelyalabama.org/fire_foundation_for_individual_rights_and_expression_virtual_event?utm_campaign=fire_and_tuskegee&utm_medium=email&utm_source=righttoreadalabama

Join us and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression on Oct 14th @ 6 PM for a conversation on your First Amendment rights.

10/09/2026

"Sold" is one of three titles that the Fairhope Public Library refused to remove from their teen section, resulting in the loss of their funding by the APLS under John Wahl's leadership.

It's so important to read these books for yourself rather than listening to disinformation about them from Wahl and Moms for Liberty. Banning these important books does not protect our teens. 📚 📖 📚

10/07/2026

📢 Hey TUSKEGEE! 📢

📣 RFA and Equal Justice Initiative are coming to TUSKEGEE UNIVERSITY ! Tell everyone you know to join us Monday, Oct. 12 at 11:00 in the MLK Room of the University Chapel for:

➡️ A conversation with Read Freely and Jennifer Rae Taylor, senior attorney and senior writer at the Equal Justice Initiative, about censorship and civic engagement

➡️ Complimentary lunch 🥪🥙🥯

➡️ Raffle for a copy of "The Hate U Give" and RFA Tshirt 📖👕

➡️Swag bags for attendees 🛍️

Register here: https://www.readfreelyalabama.org/beyond_the_book_shelf_at_tuskegee_university_registration

10/07/2026

We tell our daughters to be bold, brave and brilliant. Alabama's new library rules could take the books that show them how off the kids' shelves. 📚

Under new Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) rules, a single mention of one transgender or non-binary person can get an entire book labeled "inappropriate for minors." That includes beloved collections of real-life heroines that families already have on their shelves.

To keep state funding, libraries must remove these books or move them to the adult section, which kids can no longer access by default.

Censorship doesn't protect kids. It hides heroes.

👉 Tell your local library you stand with them against censorship.
👉 Tell APLS to stop stealing our stories.
👉 Join Read Freely Alabama and FemmSouth to learn more and take action.

10/06/2026

Reasons to join us this Thursday, October 8th, at The University of West Alabama in Livingston:

➡️Street tacos 🌮

➡️Raffle for a copy of "The Hate U Give" and Read Freely Alabama T-shirt! 📖 👕

➡️Swag bags provided for attendees! 🛍️

➡️ Conversation about censorship and threats to funding in your local library 💬

Register at the link in bio!

10/05/2026

Reasons to join us this Thursday, October 8th, at University of West Alabama in Livingston:

➡️Street tacos 🌮
➡️Raffle for a copy of "The Hate U Give" and Read Freely Alabama T-shirt! 📖 👕
➡️Swag bags provided for attendees! 🛍️
➡️ Conversation about censorship and threats to funding in your local library 💬

Register here:

https://www.readfreelyalabama.org/beyond_the_bookshelf_uaw_registration