‘Dangerous precedent’: authors sue LA library over cancelled Palestine event

Nora Lester Murad and Jenan Matari. Photograph: Courtesy of Nora Lester Marud and Jenan Matari

Two authors have sued the city of Los Angeles over the Los Angeles public library’s (LAPL) cancellation of a Read Palestine Week event where the writers were scheduled to discuss their books featuring Palestinian stories.

Jenan Matari, a Palestinian-American author, and Nora Lester Murad, a Jewish-American writer, were invited to speak virtually at a 6 December 2025 event organized as part of the LAPL’s Teen’Scape program, which works with youth.