Signed Into Law: June 20, 2025
The Womxn Project was a creative and community movement partner for the Freedom to Read coalition.
The Freedom to Read Act prevents book bans in Rhode Island’s public schools and libraries, by guaranteeing access to diverse educational materials. This law protects intellectual freedom, supports educators and librarians, and ensures students and families can access inclusive resources without censorship.
TWP not only increased the number of community members who participated in lobbying, but we also engaged community involvement through "makers days," where members of the public helped TWP create paper flowers, made from the pages of banned books. These flowers were then distributed to sponsors of the bill, as a form of Artivism (art activism), to publicly thank lawmakers who support the bill, and expose lawmakers who opposed it.
“Public libraries are places where you can find yourself in other people’s words. The differing experiences and world views captured in books are as varied and interesting as every individual who is browsing the shelves. In Rhode Island, we promote free expression. We don’t restrict it. And in Rhode Island, we see censorship for what it is: a way to limit what we can learn about the world—and about each other.”
Governor Dan McKee
