Riverside, IL -- July 5, 2023. Today, EveryLibrary launched a "Fight for the First" pledge to highlight federal, state and local elected officials' commitment to defending the First Amendment. The pledge is available on the website for candidates at action.everylibrary.org/candidatepledge, and for elected officials at action.everylibrary.org/officeholderpledge

"Our first amendment rights are under attack. Books bans and the attempted persecution of librarians are extremely concerning. This insidious agenda must be stopped," said EveryLibrary Executive Director John Chrastka. The "First for the First" petition, which we are launching in advance of Independence Day, is a nationwide, non-partisan effort to identify and thank those elected leaders willing to stand up and protect our rights."

Candidates and officeholders are invited to pledge to commit to supporting the First Amendment rights of all Americans. This includes reading, access to information through libraries, and the ability of every parent to determine what is appropriate for their own children. EveryLibrary is asking candidates and officeholders to champion public libraries and school libraries, oppose book bans, fight against criminalizing libraries, schools, and museums, and lift up the work librarians do every day in diverse communities.

About EveryLibrary

EveryLibrary is a non-partisan, pro-library organization with an alignment toward sustaining libraries as they evolve and grow in the 21st century. EveryLibrary is a coalition partner with other organizations, associations, and nonprofits that seek to support libraries through public awareness and advocacy. We are dedicated to working in coalition with other national and state-level library, museum, and archives stakeholder organizations. We are ready to stand alongside and in support of other national organizations and bring our network of Americans to these coalitions. For more information on EveryLibrary please visit www.everylibrary.org.