Conservative politicians and pundits continue to wage a war on words--during the 2021-2022 school year, more than 2,500 book bans were enacted in classrooms across 32 states. According to a new report by PEN America, Texas led the nation with 801 book bans and challenges with Florida in second place with 566 challenges.
In the Lone Star State, Rep. Matt Krause (R) recently released a 16-page document of books he deems “inappropriate” for children, calling for their immediate removal from public schools.
“[They] might make students feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress because of their race or sex.”
If you believe book bans are an attack on First Amendment rights, here are 5 things you can do right now to fight back…
READ THE BOOKS
The most important thing you can do for book bans right now is to read the books under threat of censorship.
Others include How to be Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi, Being Jazz: My Life as a Transgender Teen, the memoir by Jazz Jennings, Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green, and Roe v. Wade: The Untold Story of the Landmark Supreme Court Decision That Made Abortion Legal.
STOCK YOUR LIBRARY WITH BANNED BOOKS
You can use the Little Free Library Organization’s mobile application to find Little Libraries within your community or build your own. Then fill it with banned books to encourage access and promote free speech.
SHARE THIS QR CODE TO BANNED BOOKS
If you or someone you know is between the ages of 13-21 and struggling to access certain materials, you can apply for a free public library card to access all electronic materials through the Brooklyn Public Library.
SUPPORT LIBRARIES & LIBRARIANS
- Support Patmos Library in Jamestown, MI, a library facing closure as a result of cuts in its operating budget. Local community members advocated for shuttering the library over its refusal to remove books containing “pornographic materials” from the collection. (Parents objected to the nudity and sexual imagery in “Gender Queer.")
- Support Suzette Baker, a librarian fired from the Kingsland Public Library in Llano, Texas, for refusing to remove books from shelves or place them behind the counter.
- Support Colorado librarian Brooky Parks, fired from the Erie Community Library for holding a “Read Woke” book club featuring stories from marginalized communities.
- Donate to the American Library Association (ALA) or the Freedom to Read Foundation and help their fight to promote intellectual freedom.
REPORT A BANNED BOOK
Many cases of book bans go unreported. It's important to share local bans with national groups.
- If you hear of a threat to ban books at your local library, contact your librarians and tell them you oppose the ban.
- Report the censorship to the American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom.
CONTACT YOUR REPS
Do you want the government telling you what you can read?
Reach out to your local representatives and tell them you support the First Amendment. (Simply click on the colored faces above and you'll be put in contact with your reps.)
Midterms are coming. Are you registered to vote?
Visit our Voter Center or register to vote right here...
-Dawn Wendt
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