FLORIDA THE BOOK BANNING CAPITAL OF AMERICA
In a bizarre turn of events, Clay County in Florida has become the book ban heartland of the US. Yes, you read that right. The county has gained infamy for its high number of book challenges resulting in the removal of over 175 titles from public school libraries. And if that wasn't enough, hundreds more are unavailable due to the policy of books being pulled as soon as a challenge form is filed.
So, what's behind this book-banning madness? Well, it turns out that two conservative activist groups, Moms for Liberty and No Left Turn in Education, are responsible for inundating the systems and committees that process claims. The Florida Freedom to Read Project claims that many of the titles receiving negative attention have been in libraries for decades.
But wait, it gets even more ridiculous. Political action committees such as Conservatives for Good Government have donated to Moms for Liberty, which advocates for parental rights and has connections to the Republican Party. The group campaigns against gender ideology, critical race theory, and the “sexualization” of children, which critics claim equates to homophobia and racism.
And if you thought it couldn't get any worse, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has signed the “don’t say gay” Parental Rights in Education Act, prohibiting classroom discussions of gender identity or sexual orientation from kindergarten to third grade. The act has been updated by HB 1069, which extends the ban to all grades.
So, what's next? Will they ban books about unicorns because they promote "magical thinking"? Will they ban books about aliens because they promote "conspiracy theories"? Who knows? One thing's for sure, if this trend continues, there won't be libraries left in Clay County.
In conclusion, we urge the good people of Clay County to reconsider their stance on book banning and embrace the beauty and diversity of literature. After all, books are not just words on a page, they are windows into different worlds and perspectives. Let's keep those windows open and let the light of knowledge shine through.
‘There won’t be libraries left’: how a Florida county became the book ban heartland of the US | Florida | The Guardian https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/aug/19/clay-county-florida-book-bans-moms-for-liberty