Assembly Resolution No. 1220

BY: M. of A. Lunsford

MEMORIALIZING Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim
October 4-10, 2026, as Banned Books Week in the
State of New York

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize
official weeks that are set aside to celebrate the freedom to read and
to draw attention to banned and challenged books; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim October 4-10, 2026, as
Banned Books Week in the State of New York, in conjunction with the
observance of National Banned Books Week; and

WHEREAS, Banned Books Week is an annual awareness campaign promoted
by the American Library Association and Amnesty International, that
celebrates the freedom to read, draws attention to banned and challenged
books, and highlights persecuted individuals; and

WHEREAS, PEN America defines a school book ban as any action taken
against a book based on its content and as a result of parent or
community challenges, administrative decisions, or in response to direct
or threatened action by governmental officials, that leads to a book
being either completely removed from availability to students, or where
access to a book is restricted or diminished; and

WHEREAS, Held since September of 1982, the United States campaign
stresses the importance of ensuring the availability of those unorthodox
or unpopular viewpoints to all who wish to read them and the requirement
to keep material publicly available so people can develop their own
conclusions and opinions; and

WHEREAS, The international campaign notes individuals persecuted
because of the writings they produce, circulate or read; and

WHEREAS, Some of the events that occur during Banned Books Week are
The Virtual Read-Out and The First Amendment Film Festival; and

WHEREAS, According to a study, PEN America found that 6,870 school
book bans were enacted during the 2024-25 school year, across 23 states
and 87 public school districts; and

WHEREAS, The study found that the banned books are often by authors
of color, LGBTQ+ authors, and women, and include topics regarding
racism, sexuality, gender, and history; and

WHEREAS, It is imperative that the citizens of this great Empire
State have access to all literature, either controversial or
non-controversial, which supports our nation's First Amendment
guaranteeing the freedom of expression by prohibiting Congress from
restricting the press or the rights of individuals to speak freely; now,
therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
memorialize Governor Kathy Hochul to proclaim October 4-10, 2026, as
Banned Books Week in the State of New York; and

RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to The Honorable Kathy Hochul, Governor of the State of New
York.