Two children's book authors have filed a lawsuit against the city of Los Angeles, alleging that the public library system unlawfully canceled their virtual event featuring Palestinian stories after a staff member accused them of having “strong terrorist ties” and holding “virulently antisemitic views.”
Jenan Matari and Nora Lester Murad were scheduled to appear on December 6 as part of the Los Angeles Public Library’s Teen’Scape program. The event was scrapped three days prior. The authors claim the cancellation amounted to discrimination, a violation of their free speech rights, and breach of contract.
“Palestinian writers and creatives are so exhausted by having to fight every day to have our voices heard,” Matari told The Guardian. “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.”
The controversy erupted after emails obtained by LA Public Press revealed that a staff librarian circulated links to library personnel, including from conservative news outlets, accusing Matari of praising the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel. The librarian alleged the authors espoused “anti-Jewish hate.” One website criticized Matari for writing after the attack that the U.S. was “under Zionist occupation” and that “May this Palestinian uprising be the push needed for the dominos of colonialism to fall from every corner of this world.” Another pro-Israel site claimed Murad participated in 2024 Gaza solidarity protests at Columbia University and chanted, “Resistance is justified when people are occupied.”
Matari, a Palestinian American, authored “Everything Grows in Jiddo’s Garden,” about a young Palestinian girl tending her grandfather’s garden. Murad, who is Jewish American, wrote “Ida in the Middle,” following an eighth-grade Palestinian American girl who is magically transported from her home to her family’s village near Jerusalem while preparing for a final class project.
The authors say they received no explanation for the cancellation and that their subsequent inquiries were ignored. Matari defended her remarks, accusing critics of conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism. “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,” she said. “Every day for the last 100 years has been 7 October for Palestinians.” Murad called the antisemitism accusation “laughable.”
LAPL spokesperson Lauren Skinner previously told LA Public Press that Matari’s posts did not align with the library’s core values, though her books remain available. Murad warned that canceling the discussion sends a damaging 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 lawsuit comes amid heightened tensions over pro-Palestinian speech, with artists like Macklemore launching a Free Palestine tour and ongoing debates about censorship. The case also intersects with broader political battles, including Senate Democrats demanding answers on delayed COVID shots, as institutions face scrutiny over their handling of controversial events.
The Hill has reached out to the Los Angeles Office of the City Clerk and the LAPL for comment.
