American Booksellers for Free Expression

American Booksellers for Free Expression
AbbreviationABFE
Formation1990
Merger ofAmerican Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression
American Booksellers Association
Director
David Grogan
Parent organization
American Booksellers Association
Websitehttps://www.bookweb.org/abfe-free-speech
Formerly called
American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression

American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) is a non-profit organization operating as the advocacy wing of the American Booksellers Association (ABA) to promote free speech and expression in the United States.[1] The organization was founded in 1990 as the American Booksellers Foundation for Free Expression (ABFFE).[2] In 2015, the ABFFE merged with the ABA and became ABFE.[3] The organization works at both the national level and at local levels to support individuals who voice opposition to book challenges and bans. ABFE also provides resources and education to booksellers, politicians, the press, and the public on the importance of free expression.

The current director of ABFE is David Grogan, who took over the role in 2018.[4] The previous director was Chris Finan, who served as director of the National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) from 2017 until his retirement in 2023.[5][6]

  1. ^ ABFFE
  2. ^ "Free Expression (ABFFE)". the American Booksellers Association. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  3. ^ "ABFFE to Merge With ABA: Free Speech Programming to Expand". Nov 18, 2014.
  4. ^ "ABA Promotes David Grogan to Director of ABFE, Advocacy and Public Policy". the American Booksellers Association. 2018-02-05. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  5. ^ "ABFE Director Chris Finan to Leave ABA". the American Booksellers Association. 2017-06-21. Retrieved 2023-10-25.
  6. ^ Albanese, Andrew (16 March 2023). "NCAC Executive Director Christopher Finan to Retire". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2024-02-23.