August 12, 1996

Dear Dr. Epps,

On behalf of the nearly 3,000 members of PEN American Center, the writers' association that defends freedom of expression both at home and abroad, we write to you regarding the decision last June to remove Luis J. Rodriguez's book Always Running from library shelves in the Rockford School District.

As we understand it, after much local discussion, Always Running was removed by a narrow vote of 4-3. Its opponents argued that the book would encourage students to join gangs and adopt a lifestyle of violence, sex, and drugs. A second vote restored the book to the optional reading lists, but this does not alter the fact that it is no longer freely available to students in your district. We therefore continue to regard its removal as an act of censorship.

Luis Rodriguez is an award-winning poet and a highly regarded member of the literary profession. His book has been hailed as a compelling and moving argument for teenagers to shun the gang lifestyle. He himself urges that he wrote the book because "I don't want to see children killed anymore." In our view, removing it from the shelves also removes its potential as a positive influence on young students in your area who might otherwise get caught up, or remain caught up, in this tragic cycle of violence.

From press reports we have read, it would seem that School Board members Ed Sharp and David Strommer were the most vociferous in their objections to the book. They argued publicly that "a kid may get aroused by reading this," and suggested that the book is "pornographic." They also implied that reading about drugs and violence would make readers want to resort to drugs and violence.

Their conclusions seem to us both erroneous and condescending~erroneous, because the argument that the actions we read about cause us to behave similarly is manifestly untenable; condescending, because of the implication that young people are unfit to explore through literature some of the fundamental issues which they in all probability will face in their lives. Indeed, Mr. Rodriguez's book perhaps offers them a more thoughtful approach to these issues than they routinely receive from other sources.

Books of immediate, relevant, and authentic narrative, such as Always Running, can sometimes awaken in young readers a love of reading where other more traditional titles fail to have any impact. When such books also take a heartfelt and ultimately moral approach to very real social dangers facing young people, it is at best wrong-headed, and at worst tragic, to ban them. We urge you to restore this book to the shelves of Rockford schools.

Sincerely,

Anne Hollander, President

Faith Sale, Rose Styron, Co-Chairs Freedom-to-Write Committee

Edward Albee, Member, Freedom-to-Write Committee
PEN American Center

cc.
FRECH (Free Expression Network Website)
Wayne Peterson, Editorial Page Editor, Rockford Register Star
Geri Nikolai, The Rockford Register Star