Prestigious authors and publishers defend 'freedom to read' in 70-year-old declaration

Salman Rushdie, Cheryl Strayed and other acclaimed authors endorse an announcement calling on the book community to reaffirm its commitment to intellectual freedom.
The American Library Association and Association of American Publishers statement celebrates the 70th anniversary of a declaration defending free expression issued during the McCarthy era.
The announcement urges publishers, librarians and authors to uphold the right to create and distribute a diversity of views and ideas, even unpopular or controversial ones.
Supporters include major publishing houses like Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster as well as author and industry groups.
The declaration comes amid ongoing debates over censorship and limits on expression in the U.S. and worldwide.