Surviving Suppression: How Artists Experience and Overcome Censorship

As threats to freedom of speech multiply in America, what can artists who have experienced censorship firsthand teach us about resistance? Join us for a panel of writers and artists who have had their work banned, their voices silenced, or their speech chilled by those in power. The discussion will touch on ways artists, readers, and cultural workers are standing up for one another and fighting back. We will invite questions from the audience and provide advice for those experiencing censorship now or in the future. The event is organized alongside the public artwork BELONG by Gianna Stewart at RoCo and Rochester Reads 25th Anniversary at Writers & Books and is moderated by Tyler Barton.
The panel includes Hawk, Alex Sanchez, Gianna Stewart, and is in partnership with Writers & Books.
Read more about the panelist at https://www.rochestercontemporary.org/events/surviving-suppression-how-artists-experience-and-overcome-censorship/?event_date=2026-10-23