Censorship

Battles over book banning continue at school board meetings and in state legislatures across the country. Now politicians are targeting publishers, too.

The report “Banned in the USA: State Laws Supercharge Book Suppression in Schools,” released Thursday, shows a 28 percent increase in book bans over the last six months, reflecting the impact of state legislation on censorship efforts across the country.

ALA hopes to spark community action with the day, which will culminate with a virtual conversation, "Protecting Free Expression and the Right to Read," hosted by Unite Against Book Bans coalition partners.

The CAA Foundation and the Campaign for Our Shared Future are harnessing star power to fight censorship. Launching today, #LetAmericaRead invites supporters to join the campaign to oppose book banning, which is occurring in public schools and libraries nationwide.

The judge's ruling is an early victory for residents who sued claiming that their Constitutional rights were violated by the book removals. Meanwhile, titles are removed from schools in Spotsylvania, VA, and legislation seeking to limit access and criminalize librarians advances in Arkansas and North Dakota.

Even in places without new and restrictive laws, classroom libraries and curricula are being impacted by censorship efforts.

Some Florida districts have ordered their teachers to remove titles until they are deemed appropriate. In others, teachers are acting proactively to avoid consequences. But how do you teach with empty shelves? Three teachers share their stories. 

Brian Covey continues to educate the public about the negative impact of the Florida law that is not just about "pornography" but race and anything that might make kids uncomfortable.

The Missouri House approves state budget that strips public libraries of funding, students protest in Oregon, a 100-year-old woman speaks out against censorship in Florida, a Utah parent challenges the Bible, and more in this week's censorship news.