Unstoppable Stories: A Banned Books Festival is part of the Teaching Truth Campaign and coincides with the launch of Banned Books Week, Oct. 1-7, 2023. As the festival name declares, Stories are Unstoppable. They celebrate who we are out loud, despite attempts at censorship. They lift up our experiences, connect us across our differences and are how we learn to be better people. The festival will offer opportunities to build community, learn about the good work people are doing for equity and inclusion, uplift stories and have family fun.
When and where
- Sat.., Sep. 30, 2023, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 6301 River Road, Bethesda, MD 20817 (entrance on Whittier Blvd.). Join the main Sanctuary sessions virtually at River Road UU’s YouTube channel.
- Sun., Oct. 1, 2023, 12 p.m.-3 p.m., UU Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA 22124. UUCF worship service, focusing on banned books, starts at 10. Refreshments, bookstore and partner tables available after the service. Join the main Sanctuary sessions virtually at UUCF’s streaming page.
Important Links
- PROGRAM SCHEDULE AND SPEAKER INFORMATION
- RSVP – let us know if you’re planning to attend
- DONATE – support speakers, food and other expenses
- ORDER BOOKS ONLINE – at our Banned Bookstore through Loyalty Books.
- CONTACT – Andrew Batcher, with questions about the festival or to become a sponsor
Here’s what the sponsoring congregations’ ministers have to say about the event.
Why is the festival important
The overturning of Roe v. Wade and affirmative action, the targeting of LGBTQIA+ people, the whitewashing of history and other attempts to overthrow democracy make it clear that right-wing factions are set on enshrining hate into local, state and federal policies. Book banning is an historic, fascist tactic designed to silence, target and marginalize people.
From the organizers’ perspectives, it’s important for progressive faith communities to come together in solidarity with marginalized groups whose stories are being silenced and even erased by these efforts.
Through the festival, organizers and sponsors hope to raise awareness of efforts to ban books and demonstrate why fighting and overcoming these efforts is important to the worth and dignity of all human beings. The event will also offer tools and strategies for taking action against book banning efforts.
Financial Sponsors
- Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax
- River Road Unitarian Universalist Congregation
- Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation
- Sharon Johnson, attorney and UUCF member
- Tricia Amstutz, Realtor
Organizers/Partners
The festival originated within the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Potomac Partnership (Cedar Lane Unitarian Universalist Congregation (CLUUC), UU Congregation of Fairfax and River Road UU Congregation). Other organizers, represented by more than 30 grassroots volunteers, include Loyalty Bookstores, Washington Ethical Society, UU Congregation of Columbia (MD), Rainbow Defense Coalition, Davies UU Congregation (MD), UU Congregation of Rockville, Unity of Fairfax, Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ, the Virginia UU State Action Network, This Queer Book Saved My Life podcast, Grassroots Comedy, NOVA Prism Center, Virginia Red Wine and Blue, FCPS Pride, the Fairfax County Federation of Teachers, SURJ NoVA (Showing Up for Racial Justice Northern Virginia), the Hamkae Center, Mason Creative Writing, Drag Story Hour DMV, Montgomery County Friends of the Library and the ACLU of Maryland. The organizing team grows every week.
Key contacts
- Lead event organizer – Andrew Batcher, social justice coordinator at Cedar Lane UU and UU Fairfax.
- Press contact – Mary Lareau, communications director at UU Fairfax.
- Potomac Partnership congregation senior ministers – Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, Cedar Lane UU; Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd, River Road UU; and Rev. David A. Miller, UU Fairfax.
Donate
Donations to the Festival support speaker stipends, food and festival promotions:
- Unstoppable Stories Faithify Campaign: https://www.faithify.org/unstoppable-stories. Faithify is a fundraising platform that helps Unitarian Universalist congregations, organizations and individuals around the world accomplish their fundraising goals.
- Donate through UU Fairfax’s Realm database: https://onrealm.org/UUCF/give/BBFest
- Text a donation: Text “UUFAIRFAX BBFest” to 73256 to give using your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply.
- PayPal: https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/UUCF?country.x=US&locale.x=en_US
- Checks: Make checks payable to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax and send them to Gayathri Tillekeratne, Finance Manager, Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton, VA 22124. Please write BBFest in the memo line.