Authors Sue Los Angeles Over Cancelled Palestinian Library Event
Two children's book authors have filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles over the cancellation of a virtual library event featuring Palestinian stories. Jenan Matari and Nora Lester Murad claim the city discriminated against them, breached a contract and violated their right to free speech, according to a report by The Guardian on Tuesday.
The event was scheduled for December 6, 2025, as part of the Los Angeles Public Library's Teen'Scape programme, but was called off three days in advance. The cancellation followed accusations from a library staff member that the authors had "strong terrorist ties" and held "virulently antisemitic views."
Matari, a Palestinian American, is the author of "Everything Grows in Jiddo's Garden," a book about a young Palestinian girl learning to care for her grandfather's garden. Murad, who is Jewish American, wrote "Ida in the Middle," which follows an eighth-grade Palestinian American girl who is magically transported from her home, where she was preparing for a final class project, to her family's village near Jerusalem.
Emails obtained by the independent outlet LA Public Press showed a staff librarian sharing links about the two authors with library colleagues. The links included articles from conservative news websites claiming Matari had praised the Hamas attack on Israel on October 7, 2023. The librarian accused the authors of "anti-Jewish hate."
One website criticised Matari's writings after the October 7 attack, citing her statements that the U.S. was "under Zionist occupation" and "May this Palestinian uprising be the push needed for the dominos of colonialism to fall from every corner of this world." A pro-Israel website said Murad had taken part in Gaza solidarity protests at Columbia University in 2024, where participants chanted, "Resistance is justified when people are occupied."
The authors told The Guardian they received no explanation for the cancellation and that their subsequent inquiries were ignored. Matari defended her comments, arguing that critics were conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism. Murad described the antisemitism accusation as "laughable."
"I'm vehemently anti-Zionist and all my posts reflect that … I have been watching people back home living every single day with a violent oppressive boot on their neck that I pay for with my tax money," Matari told the outlet. "Every day for the last 100 years has been 7 October for Palestinians."
Matari also said: "Palestinian writers and creatives are so exhausted by having to fight every day to have our voices heard. To be censored by an institution like the library is really scary because this is where free speech should be cultivated and nurtured. It sets a very dangerous precedent … Nora and I agreed we had to show these institutions they cannot continue to get away with this."
Lauren Skinner, a spokesperson for the Los Angeles Public Library, told LA Public Press earlier this year that Matari's posts did not align with the library's core values, adding that the authors' books remained available at the library.
Murad told the outlet earlier this year that cancelling the virtual discussion sends a message to children: "Oh, I heard those are terrorist people … those are antisemitic people. I'm not going to get their book … [or] invite them to my school."
The Hill has contacted the Los Angeles City Clerk's office and the Los Angeles Public Library for comment.
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