CINXE.COM
Banned Books Week is here again, and the battle for education continues | People For
<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en" dir="ltr" prefix="og: https://ogp.me/ns#"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://www.peoplefor.org/banned-books-week-here-again-and-battle-education-continues" /> <meta property="og:site_name" content="People For" /> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.peoplefor.org/banned-books-week-here-again-and-battle-education-continues" /> <meta property="og:title" content="Banned Books Week is here again, and the battle for education continues" /> <meta property="og:image" content="https://www.peoplefor.org/sites/default/files/styles/social/public/images/books_shelf.jpg?itok=VVqobnL3" /> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@peoplefor" /> <meta name="twitter:title" content="Banned Books Week is here again, and the battle for education continues" /> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://www.peoplefor.org/sites/default/files/styles/social/public/images/books_shelf.jpg?itok=VVqobnL3" /> <meta name="Generator" content="Drupal 10 (https://www.drupal.org)" /> <meta name="MobileOptimized" content="width" /> <meta name="HandheldFriendly" content="true" /> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1, shrink-to-fit=no" /> <meta http-equiv="x-ua-compatible" content="ie=edge" /> <link rel="icon" href="/themes/custom/people_for_theme/favicon.ico" type="image/vnd.microsoft.icon" /> <title>Banned Books Week is here again, and the battle for education continues | People For</title> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_N-NEqPC_kK0aXZrJXvvRW5mncua1CYzdh8XSjESS1kE.css?delta=0&language=en&theme=people_for_theme&include=eJxljt0OwiAMhV8IxyORslVACyVt0e3tRePihTdNznd-0ohmKEF5LUBBM0hpKcRhxk292kFTu8hsagI9RBAp7K8s1a0s6DcZHWiBG-wOd5vx-8m-0nUQSLOc9XR-ZBmtj0hFM26uI3fCMMeDZazoE3EEupxv6KGG1UdQdBZDxQQV2_gH7wKqexR8qv_cpfI2CF-LoF5i" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_IamhWbl8zDN4BxiXhyFx2FlaU-9DGUmVvzrpf-jJUtQ.css?delta=1&language=en&theme=people_for_theme&include=eJxljt0OwiAMhV8IxyORslVACyVt0e3tRePihTdNznd-0ohmKEF5LUBBM0hpKcRhxk292kFTu8hsagI9RBAp7K8s1a0s6DcZHWiBG-wOd5vx-8m-0nUQSLOc9XR-ZBmtj0hFM26uI3fCMMeDZazoE3EEupxv6KGG1UdQdBZDxQQV2_gH7wKqexR8qv_cpfI2CF-LoF5i" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="https://stackpath.bootstrapcdn.com/font-awesome/4.7.0/css/font-awesome.min.css" /> <link rel="stylesheet" media="all" href="/sites/default/files/css/css_rpoobwRU--cso13aeUIIVvAU5EoNAdg1JmbasMu-n7U.css?delta=3&language=en&theme=people_for_theme&include=eJxljt0OwiAMhV8IxyORslVACyVt0e3tRePihTdNznd-0ohmKEF5LUBBM0hpKcRhxk292kFTu8hsagI9RBAp7K8s1a0s6DcZHWiBG-wOd5vx-8m-0nUQSLOc9XR-ZBmtj0hFM26uI3fCMMeDZazoE3EEupxv6KGG1UdQdBZDxQQV2_gH7wKqexR8qv_cpfI2CF-LoF5i" /> <script type="application/json" data-drupal-selector="drupal-settings-json">{"path":{"baseUrl":"\/","pathPrefix":"","currentPath":"node\/1000407","currentPathIsAdmin":false,"isFront":false,"currentLanguage":"en"},"pluralDelimiter":"\u0003","suppressDeprecationErrors":true,"gtag":{"tagId":"G-7815051E1Y","consentMode":false,"otherIds":[],"events":[],"additionalConfigInfo":{"content_type":"article","issue":"Banned Books","program":"Freedom to Learn","article_type":"News \u0026amp; Analysis","partisanship":"Non-partisan"}},"ajaxPageState":{"libraries":"eJx9TtFuxCAM-yFaPgmFNkfZAkFJ2I59_di06nRXaS9RbMeOI5qhBOUtAwU9QHJNIXYzruo3bmPZughWW7qQi_-eqw2a2EVmUxNoIYJIZn9jKVc2EUeg5XRtAl8DU_Ln4vBuU3n3u_QGtP5Bl5gTYTBIPs3xild4g_szWVwDgTR_H3qmPZi119YjZT1wdw25Td9sHOzAgq8tL3pjGrdMpE6HGhYfQdFZDAUTFKz9SvxkobqPjJ_qf-daeO-E31_fnUQ","theme":"people_for_theme","theme_token":null},"ajaxTrustedUrl":{"\/search":true},"gtm":{"tagId":null,"settings":{"data_layer":"dataLayer","include_classes":false,"allowlist_classes":"","blocklist_classes":"","include_environment":false,"environment_id":"","environment_token":""},"tagIds":["GTM-5J9DGJ"]},"data":{"extlink":{"extTarget":true,"extTargetAppendNewWindowLabel":"(opens in a new window)","extTargetNoOverride":false,"extNofollow":false,"extTitleNoOverride":false,"extNoreferrer":true,"extFollowNoOverride":false,"extClass":"ext","extLabel":"(link is external)","extImgClass":false,"extSubdomains":true,"extExclude":"","extInclude":"","extCssExclude":"","extCssInclude":"","extCssExplicit":"","extAlert":false,"extAlertText":"This link will take you to an external web site. We are not responsible for their content.","extHideIcons":false,"mailtoClass":"0","telClass":"","mailtoLabel":"(link sends email)","telLabel":"(link is a phone number)","extUseFontAwesome":false,"extIconPlacement":"after","extPreventOrphan":false,"extFaLinkClasses":"fa fa-external-link","extFaMailtoClasses":"fa fa-envelope-o","extAdditionalLinkClasses":"","extAdditionalMailtoClasses":"","extAdditionalTelClasses":"","extFaTelClasses":"fa fa-phone","whitelistedDomains":[],"extExcludeNoreferrer":""}},"field_group":{"link":{"mode":"card","context":"view","settings":{"classes":"","show_empty_fields":false,"id":"","target":"entity","custom_uri":"","target_attribute":"default"}},"html_element":{"mode":"card","context":"view","settings":{"classes":"group-left","show_empty_fields":false,"id":"","element":"div","show_label":false,"label_element":"h3","label_element_classes":"","attributes":"","effect":"none","speed":"fast"}}},"TBMegaMenu":{"TBElementsCounter":{"column":null},"theme":"people_for_theme","4a4a04fe-9bae-4ace-ad2e-b9a6dadaed39":{"arrows":""},"fe42568d-3f56-47f3-b1cd-b7996691f548":{"arrows":"0"}},"user":{"uid":0,"permissionsHash":"c5f1b0ab26ef68ae67b448afa521d419a775544f7563fe8b849a8433fcdf85bf"}}</script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_NKAdOJTb7EsEJQx2pXMq-A3mr0Y2sllHXW5Fyh6Y3E4.js?scope=header&delta=0&language=en&theme=people_for_theme&include=eJxljEEOwyAMBD8E4UnIUMehNRgZI4W-vjm0h7aX1c6stAnNUOOQXIDjOEBLo5immbQRsvTl81TFZn4qu6zwXEgUPsXhaVzaI9x0duDtjY5EiDEaUKArfnmDO5zfsrqO0i_cRaMdWDEQSwL2w9b1Sf97F157YR7OUqxIULHNkGDgC9ehVH8"></script> <script src="https://script.crazyegg.com/pages/scripts/0103/1236.js" async></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/google_tag/js/gtag.js?srjhy5"></script> <script src="/modules/contrib/google_tag/js/gtm.js?srjhy5"></script> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_kWF1q9O1nPCs-V7ltG4fRHoS9dFRuz9_-0BMCu01eac.js?scope=header&delta=4&language=en&theme=people_for_theme&include=eJxljEEOwyAMBD8E4UnIUMehNRgZI4W-vjm0h7aX1c6stAnNUOOQXIDjOEBLo5immbQRsvTl81TFZn4qu6zwXEgUPsXhaVzaI9x0duDtjY5EiDEaUKArfnmDO5zfsrqO0i_cRaMdWDEQSwL2w9b1Sf97F157YR7OUqxIULHNkGDgC9ehVH8"></script> <!-- Fundraise Up: the new standard for online giving --> <script>(function(w,d,s,n,a){if(!w[n]){var l='call,catch,on,once,set,then,track' .split(','),i,o=function(n){return'function'==typeof n?o.l.push([arguments])&&o :function(){return o.l.push([n,arguments])&&o}},t=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s);j.async=!0;j.src='https://cdn.fundraiseup.com/widget/'+a; t.parentNode.insertBefore(j,t);o.s=Date.now();o.v=4;o.h=w.location.href;o.l=[]; for(i=0;i<7;i++)o[l[i]]=o(l[i]);w[n]=o} })(window,document,'script','FundraiseUp','AWHBTNPS');</script> <!-- End Fundraise Up --> </head> <body class="layout-no-sidebars page-node-1000407 path-node node--type-article"> <a href="#main-content" class="visually-hidden focusable"> Skip to main content </a> <noscript><iframe src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-5J9DGJ" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript> <div class="dialog-off-canvas-main-canvas" data-off-canvas-main-canvas> <div id="page-wrapper"> <div id="page"> <header id="header" class="header" role="banner" aria-label="Site header"> <nav class="navbar navbar-expand-xl" id="navbar-main"> <a href="/" title="Home" rel="home" class="navbar-brand"> <img src="/themes/custom/people_for_theme/logo.svg" alt="Home" /> </a> <div id="block-people-for-theme-mainnavigation" class="block block-tb-megamenu block-tb-megamenu-menu-blockmain"> <div class="content"> <style type="text/css"> .tbm.animate .tbm-item > .tbm-submenu, .tbm.animate.slide .tbm-item > .tbm-submenu > div { transition-delay: 200ms; -webkit-transition-delay: 200ms; -ms-transition-delay: 200ms; -o-transition-delay: 200ms; transition-duration: 400ms; -webkit-transition-duration: 400ms; -ms-transition-duration: 400ms; -o-transition-duration: 400ms; } </style> <nav class="tbm tbm-main tbm-no-arrows animate fading" id="fe42568d-3f56-47f3-b1cd-b7996691f548" data-breakpoint="1023" data-duration="400" data-delay="200" aria-label="main navigation"> <button class="tbm-button" type="button"> <span class="tbm-button-container"> <span>Menu</span> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> </span> </button> <div class="tbm-collapse "> <ul class="tbm-nav level-0 items-5" role="list" > <li class="tbm-item level-1 tbm-item--has-dropdown" aria-level="1" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/mission-overview" class="tbm-link level-1 tbm-toggle" aria-expanded="false"> About </a> <button class="tbm-submenu-toggle"><span class="visually-hidden">Toggle submenu</span></button> </div> <div class="tbm-submenu tbm-item-child" role="list"> <div class="tbm-row"> <div class="tbm-column span6"> <div class="tbm-column-inner"> <ul class="tbm-subnav level-1 items-1" role="list"> <li class="tbm-item level-2 tbm-group" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/mission-overview" class="tbm-link level-2 tbm-group-title" aria-expanded="false"> About </a> </div> <div class="tbm-group-container tbm-item-child" role="list"> <div class="tbm-row"> <div class="tbm-column span12"> <div class="tbm-column-inner"> <ul class="tbm-subnav level-2 items-13" role="list"> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/mission-overview" class="tbm-link level-3"> Mission & Overview </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/our-impact" class="tbm-link level-3"> Impact </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/our-leaders" class="tbm-link level-3"> Leadership </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/our-founder-norman-lear" class="tbm-link level-3"> Founder Norman Lear </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/media-center" class="tbm-link level-3"> Media Center </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/contact-us" class="tbm-link level-3" title="Contact Us"> Contact Us </a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="tbm-column span6"> <div class="tbm-column-inner"> <ul class="tbm-subnav level-1 items-1" role="list"> <li class="tbm-item level-2 tbm-group" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="https://www.peoplefor.org/foundation" class="tbm-link level-2 tbm-group-title" aria-expanded="false"> People For Foundation </a> </div> <div class="tbm-group-container tbm-item-child" role="list"> <div class="tbm-row"> <div class="tbm-column span12"> <div class="tbm-column-inner"> <ul class="tbm-subnav level-2 items-10" role="list"> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/decision-watch" class="tbm-link level-3"> Decision Watch </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/defend-black-vote" class="tbm-link level-3"> Defend the Black Vote </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/grandparents-truth" class="tbm-link level-3"> Grandparents For Truth </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/african-american-religious-affairs" class="tbm-link level-3"> Religious Affairs </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-3" aria-level="3" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/young-elected-officials-network" class="tbm-link level-3"> Young Elected Officials </a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-1 tbm-item--has-dropdown" aria-level="1" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/our-issues" class="tbm-link level-1 tbm-toggle" aria-expanded="false"> Issues </a> <button class="tbm-submenu-toggle"><span class="visually-hidden">Toggle submenu</span></button> </div> <div class="tbm-submenu tbm-item-child" role="list"> <div class="tbm-row"> <div class="tbm-column span12"> <div class="tbm-column-inner"> <ul class="tbm-subnav level-1 items-12" role="list"> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/artists-democracy" class="tbm-link level-2"> Artists For Democracy </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/book-bans-censorship" class="tbm-link level-2"> Book Bans & Censorship </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/fighting-fair-courts" class="tbm-link level-2"> Fair Courts </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/voting-rights" class="tbm-link level-2"> Voting Rights </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/far-right-extremism" class="tbm-link level-2"> Far-Right Extremism </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/next-up-victory-fund" class="tbm-link level-2"> Next Up Victory Fund </a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-1" aria-level="1" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/rightwingwatch" class="tbm-link level-1"> Right Wing Watch </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-1" aria-level="1" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/latest" class="tbm-link level-1"> The Latest </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-1" aria-level="1" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="https://peoplefor.shop/" class="tbm-link level-1"> Shop </a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <script> if (window.matchMedia("(max-width: 1023px)").matches) { document.getElementById("fe42568d-3f56-47f3-b1cd-b7996691f548").classList.add('tbm--mobile'); } </script> </div> </div> <div id="block-people-for-theme-peopleforsecondarynav" class="block block-people-for block-people-for-secondarynav-block"> <div class="content"> <div> <button data-bs-target="#overlay-search" data-bs-toggle="modal" aria-label="Search" type="button"><svg width="17" height="17" viewBox="0 0 17 17" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M4.2208 9.62747C5.45774 12.5016 8.8199 13.8414 11.7304 12.6199C14.6409 11.3984 15.9976 8.07824 14.7607 5.2041C13.5237 2.32995 10.1616 0.990207 7.25107 2.21169C4.34056 3.43317 2.98387 6.75333 4.2208 9.62747Z" stroke="#0B164C" stroke-width="2"/> <path d="M5 11.85L1.00003 15.8" stroke="#0B164C" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round"/> </svg> </button> <div aria-hidden="hidden" aria-labelledby="overlay-title-search" class="modal fade search" id="overlay-search" tabindex="-1"> <div class="modal-dialog" role="document"> <div class="modal-header"> <h2 class="modal-title sr-only" id="overlay-title-search">Search</h2> <button type="button" class="close" data-bs-dismiss="modal" aria-label="Close"> <span>CLOSE</span> </button> </div> <div class="modal-content"> <form class="people-for-search-form" data-drupal-selector="people-for-search-form" action="/search" method="get" id="people-for-search-form" accept-charset="UTF-8"> <div class="js-form-item js-form-type-search form-type-search js-form-item-keys form-item-keys form-no-label mb-3"> <label for="edit-keys" class="visually-hidden">Search</label> <input title="Search by keyword" placeholder="Search by keyword" data-drupal-selector="edit-keys" type="search" id="edit-keys" name="keys" value="" size="15" maxlength="128" class="form-search form-control" /> </div> <div data-drupal-selector="edit-actions" class="form-actions js-form-wrapper form-wrapper mb-3" id="edit-actions"><input data-drupal-selector="edit-submit" type="submit" id="edit-submit" value="Search" class="button js-form-submit form-submit btn btn-primary form-control" placeholder="" /> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="block-people-for-theme-secondarymenu" class="block block-tb-megamenu block-tb-megamenu-menu-blocksecondary-menu"> <div class="content"> <nav class="tbm tbm-secondary-menu tbm-no-arrows" id="4a4a04fe-9bae-4ace-ad2e-b9a6dadaed39" data-breakpoint="0" aria-label="secondary-menu navigation"> <button class="tbm-button" type="button"> <span class="tbm-button-container"> <span>Menu</span> <span></span> <span></span> <span></span> </span> </button> <div class="tbm-collapse always-show"> <ul class="tbm-nav level-0 items-2" role="list" > <li class="tbm-item level-1 tbm-item--has-dropdown" aria-level="1" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <button class="tbm-link level-1 no-link tbm-toggle" tabindex="0" aria-expanded="false"> Act Now </button> <button class="tbm-submenu-toggle"><span class="visually-hidden">Toggle submenu</span></button> </div> <div class="tbm-submenu tbm-item-child" role="list"> <div class="tbm-row"> <div class="tbm-column span12"> <div class="tbm-column-inner"> <ul class="tbm-subnav level-1 items-2" role="list"> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/petitions-actions" class="tbm-link level-2"> Petitions & Actions </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/activist-toolkits" class="tbm-link level-2"> Activist Toolkits </a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-1 tbm-item--has-dropdown" aria-level="1" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <button class="tbm-link level-1 no-link tbm-toggle" tabindex="0" aria-expanded="false"> Donate </button> <button class="tbm-submenu-toggle"><span class="visually-hidden">Toggle submenu</span></button> </div> <div class="tbm-submenu tbm-item-child" role="list"> <div class="tbm-row"> <div class="tbm-column span12"> <div class="tbm-column-inner"> <ul class="tbm-subnav level-1 items-4" role="list"> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/give-now" class="tbm-link level-2"> Give Now </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/become-member" class="tbm-link level-2"> Become a Member </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/renew-your-membership" class="tbm-link level-2"> Renew Membership </a> </div> </li> <li class="tbm-item level-2" aria-level="2" > <div class="tbm-link-container"> <a href="/ways-give" class="tbm-link level-2"> Ways to Give </a> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <script> if (window.matchMedia("(max-width: 0px)").matches) { document.getElementById("4a4a04fe-9bae-4ace-ad2e-b9a6dadaed39").classList.add('tbm--mobile'); } </script> </div> </div> </nav> </header> <div id="main-wrapper" class="layout-main-wrapper clearfix"> <div id="main" class="container"> <div class="row row-offcanvas row-offcanvas-left clearfix"> <main class="main-content col order-last" id="content" role="main"> <section class="section" id="main-content"> <div data-drupal-messages-fallback class="hidden"></div> <div id="block-people-for-theme-content" class="block block-system block-system-main-block"> <div class="content"> <div class="node node--type-article node--view-mode-full ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-dynamic-twig-fieldnode-article-breadcrumb field--type-ds field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="/latest">The Latest</a> <span>/</span> <a href="/latest/banned-books"><div class="taxonomy-term taxonomy-term--type-issue taxonomy-term--view-mode-short-title ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Banned Books</div> </div> </a></div> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-hidden field__item"><h1> Banned Books Week is here again, and the battle for education continues </h1> </div> <div class="social-sharing-buttons"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.peoplefor.org/banned-books-week-here-again-and-battle-education-continues&title=Banned Books Week is here again, and the battle for education continues" target="_blank" title="Share to Facebook" aria-label="Share to Facebook" class="social-sharing-buttons__button share-facebook" rel="noopener"> <span class="sr-only">Share on Facebook</span> </a> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Banned Books Week is here again, and the battle for education continues+https://www.peoplefor.org/banned-books-week-here-again-and-battle-education-continues" target="_blank" title="Share to X" aria-label="Share to X" class="social-sharing-buttons__button share-x" rel="noopener"> <span class="sr-only">Share on X</span> </a> <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#96a9e5e3f4fcf3f5e2abd4f7f8f8f3f2b6d4f9f9fde5b6c1f3f3fdb6ffe5b6fef3e4f3b6f7f1f7fff8bab6f7f8f2b6e2fef3b6f4f7e2e2faf3b6f0f9e4b6f3f2e3f5f7e2fff9f8b6f5f9f8e2fff8e3f3e5b0f7fbe6adf4f9f2efabfee2e2e6e5acb9b9e1e1e1b8e6f3f9e6faf3f0f9e4b8f9e4f1b9f4f7f8f8f3f2bbf4f9f9fde5bbe1f3f3fdbbfef3e4f3bbf7f1f7fff8bbf7f8f2bbf4f7e2e2faf3bbf3f2e3f5f7e2fff9f8bbf5f9f8e2fff8e3f3e5" title="Share to Email" aria-label="Share to Email" class="social-sharing-buttons__button share-email" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> <span class="sr-only">Share via Email</span> </a> <a class="btnCopy social-sharing-buttons__button share-copy"> <span class="sr-only">Copy link</span> <div class="social-sharing-buttons__popup">Copied to clipboard</div> </a> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/article_full/public/images/books_shelf.jpg.webp?itok=FLiTcX0w" width="960" height="575" alt="books on a shelf" class="image-style-article-full" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="https://www.peoplefor.org/search?type=1000102">News & Analysis</a></div> <div class="group-dates"> <div class="field field--name-field-publication-date field--type-datetime field--label-hidden field__item"><time datetime="2024-09-23T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">09/23/2024</time> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-updated-date field--type-datetime field--label-inline"> <div class="field__label">Updated:</div> <div class="field__item"><time datetime="2024-09-27T12:00:00Z" class="datetime">09/27/2024</time> </div> </div> </div> <div class="group-authors"> <span>by</span> <div class="field field--name-field-authors field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/spokespeople/miranda-jayne-boyd" hreflang="en">Miranda Jayne Boyd</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-body field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p><span class lang="EN-US">Banned Books Week is the time when we come together to read, discuss, and fight for all the books we’ve seen banned around the country. This year, we’re facing an </span><a href="https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data"><span class lang="EN-US">onslaught</span></a><span class lang="EN-US"> of attacks on education from authoritarian groups and individuals hellbent on denying our nation’s young people the freedom to learn. </span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US">Anti-education extremists seek to indoctrinate our children and weaken our public schools. They oppose fact-based and inclusive educational curricula and materials, attack educators and librarians who stand up for the truth, and use false claims like “parental rights” as cover for their effort to control what all kids can read and learn. We must rise to the challenge.</span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US"><strong>Education is essential to a thriving democracy. </strong></span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US">This Banned Books Week, we’re fighting for education because we know how vital it is to democracy. In a contentious election year, education will make a huge difference in which way our country turns – toward freedom or toward authoritarianism. </span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US">We’re seeing that battle play out in schools, libraries, and campuses as authoritarians attempt to dismantle education. They banned a </span><a href="https://www.ala.org/bbooks/censorship-numbers"><span class lang="EN-US">record number of books last year</span></a><span class lang="EN-US">, they’ve attempted to </span><a href="https://www.rightwingwatch.org/post/will-david-barton-fill-oklahomas-curriculum-with-lies-and-disinformation/"><span class lang="EN-US">alter state curricula</span></a><span class lang="EN-US"> to fit their agenda, and they’ve even gone so far as to say they want to </span><a href="https://kamalaharris.com/project2025/"><span class lang="EN-US">eliminate the Department of Education</span></a><span class lang="EN-US"> entirely. Banned Books Week exists to fight back against these assaults.</span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US"><strong>Banned books by the numbers</strong></span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US">The volume of books banned over the last few years is deeply concerning. So far this year, the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom (OIF) has tracked </span><a href="https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data"><span class lang="EN-US">more than 1,000</span></a><span class lang="EN-US"> “unique titles targeted for censorship” and </span><a href="https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data"><span class lang="EN-US">more than 400</span></a><span class lang="EN-US"> “attempts to censor library materials and services.” And this disturbing trend isn’t new. In 2023, the OIF </span><a href="https://www.ala.org/bbooks/book-ban-data"><span class lang="EN-US">found</span></a><span class lang="EN-US"> “challenges of unique titles surged 65% in 2023 compared to 2022.” This is the volume we’re up against, and we cannot let up in our efforts to fight back.</span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US"><strong>There’s a pattern to the banning</strong></span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US">Sadly, we know that the </span><a href="https://www.ala.org/bbooks/frequentlychallengedbooks/top10"><span class lang="EN-US">majority</span></a><span class lang="EN-US"> of banned and challenged books are written by or about members of the LGBTQ+ and Black and brown communities. Like other types of authoritarian attacks, marginalized communities take the brunt of the book bans and censorship. That’s why we all must work together to combat attacks on education, because the very diversity authoritarians are seeking to hide holds the power to make a better world.</span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US"><strong>We’re fighting back, and so can you</strong></span><span class> </span></p><p><span class lang="EN-US">Pushing back against censorship is what Banned Books Week is all about.</span><span class> Help us defend education by taking action below and joining our Grandparents For Truth program to show your support for honest education (grandchildren not required). You can even show your support with our fantastic swag!</span></p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-components field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden"> <div class="field__item component-actions_grid"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-actions-grid paragraph--view-mode-default margin-above-medium bg-gray layout-2-across ds-1col clearfix"> <h2>Take action to support education</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-actions field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="node node--type-action node--view-mode-card ds-1col clearfix"> <a href="/join-grandparents-truth-0" class="field-group-link" hreflang="en"> <div class="group-left"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/action_card/public/images/Website%20Action%20images%281%29.png.webp?itok=yqkxPpJW" width="550" height="367" alt="Woman holding a sign that reads Grandparents For Truth" class="image-style-action-card" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="group-right"> <div class="field field--name-field-banner field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-page-banner paragraph--view-mode-action-card-info cutout-background ds-1col clearfix"> <h3><p>Join Grandparents For Truth!</p> </h3> </div> </div> </div></a> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"><div class="node node--type-action node--view-mode-card ds-1col clearfix"> <a href="/tell-congress-pass-books-save-lives-act" class="field-group-link" hreflang="en"> <div class="group-left"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/action_card/public/images/Website%20Action%20images%20%288%29.png.webp?itok=igG4rOnx" width="550" height="367" alt="People For President Svante Myrick with a bullhorn" class="image-style-action-card" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="group-right"> <div class="field field--name-field-banner field--type-entity-reference-revisions field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-page-banner paragraph--view-mode-action-card-info cutout-background ds-1col clearfix"> <h3><p>Tell Congress: Pass the Books Save Lives Act</p> </h3> </div> </div> </div></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item component-half_image"> <div class="paragraph paragraph--type-half-image paragraph--view-mode-image margin-above-small bg-white image-alignment-right ds-2col"> <div class="group-left"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/half_image/public/images/Screenshot%202024-09-27%20at%2009-48-30%20Grandparents%20For%20Truth%20%E2%80%93%20Page%202%20%E2%80%93%20peoplefor.png?h=ff378651&itok=mi_B_l8y" width="600" height="370" alt="Two pictures, one of a woman holding a coffee mug, the other of a person holding a tote bag." class="image-style-half-image" /> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="group-right"> <h2>Shop the swag</h2> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-text field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>Find your favorite pro-books, pro-education gear on our shop. Show your support with a tote bag, mug, t-shirt and more!</p><p>Use promo code bannedbooks to get 20% off before October 31st!</p><p> </p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-link field--type-link field--label-hidden field__item"><a href="https://peoplefor.shop/collections/grandparents-for-truth">Shop now</a></div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item component-article_listing"><div class="paragraph paragraph--type-article-listing paragraph--view-mode-default margin-above-medium bg-white layout-3-across ds-1col clearfix"> <h2>More articles</h2> <div class="field field--name-field-articles field--type-viewsreference field--label-hidden field__item"><div class="views-element-container"><div class="view view-article-listing view-id-article_listing view-display-id-block_1 js-view-dom-id-31cb3dd2957fa942f145ba8ae07eb656dcd73915a191ce0681feb260c11cd3c8"> <div class="view-content row"> <div class="views-row"> <div class="node node--type-article node--view-mode-card ds-1col clearfix"> <a href="/trump-justices-cast-deciding-votes-reinstate-state-law-requiring-proof-citizenship-register-using" class="field-group-link" hreflang="en"> <div class="group-left"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/images/default-image_0.jpg.webp?itok=LKUfSLDJ" width="440" height="270" alt="American flag" class="image-style-card" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News & Analysis</div> </div> <div class="group-right"> <div class="field field--name-field-issue field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="taxonomy-term taxonomy-term--type-issue taxonomy-term--view-mode-short-title ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Anti-Education Extremists</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-hidden field__item"><h3> Trump Justices Cast Deciding Votes to Reinstate State Law Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Register Using State Form </h3> </div> </div></a> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"> <div class="node node--type-article node--view-mode-card ds-1col clearfix"> <a href="/trump-justices-cast-deciding-votes-reinstate-state-law-requiring-proof-citizenship-register-using-0" class="field-group-link" hreflang="en"> <div class="group-left"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/wp/2019/02/Supreme-Court.jpg.webp?itok=yhMXWC91" width="440" height="270" alt="Supreme Court Building" class="image-style-card" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News & Analysis</div> </div> <div class="group-right"> <div class="field field--name-field-issue field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="taxonomy-term taxonomy-term--type-issue taxonomy-term--view-mode-short-title ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Anti-Education Extremists</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-hidden field__item"><h3> Trump Justices Cast Deciding Votes to Reinstate State Law Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Register Using State Form </h3> </div> </div></a> </div> </div> <div class="views-row"> <div class="node node--type-article node--view-mode-card ds-1col clearfix"> <a href="/blog-posts/as-senate-nears-confirmation-of-200th-biden-judge-april-sees-key-decisions-made-possible-by-biden-judges-on-transgender-rights-censorship-consumer-protection-and-more" class="field-group-link" hreflang="en"> <div class="group-left"> <div class="field field--name-field-image field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/styles/card/public/wp/2023/03/Website-header.jpg.webp?itok=fGVibCPk" width="440" height="270" alt="A stock photo of a judge slamming down a gavel." class="image-style-card" /> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-type field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__item">News & Analysis</div> </div> <div class="group-right"> <div class="field field--name-field-issue field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div class="taxonomy-term taxonomy-term--type-issue taxonomy-term--view-mode-short-title ds-1col clearfix"> <div class="field field--name-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Censorship</div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-node-title field--type-ds field--label-hidden field__item"><h3> As Senate Nears Confirmation of 200th Biden Judge, April Sees Key Decisions Made Possible by Biden Judges on Transgender Rights, Censorship, Consumer Protection and More </h3> </div> </div></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </main> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="site-footer"> <div class="container"> <section class="row region region-footer"> <div id="block-people-for-theme-footer" class="block-content-footer block block-block-content block-block-contentdd26b60d-cf41-4205-8207-9251590755a6"> <div class="content"> <div class="block-content block-content--type-footer block-content--view-mode-full ds-2col-stacked clearfix"> <div class="group-header"> <div class="field field--name-field-social-links field--type-entity-reference field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/peoplefor"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/social-links/facebook.svg" alt="Facebook"></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/people-for-the-american-way"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/social-links/linkedin2.svg" alt="Linked In Logo"></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <a href="https://twitter.com/peoplefor"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/social-links/simple-icons_x.svg" alt="X (Twitter) Logo"></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/peoplefor_/"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/social-links/instagram.svg" alt="Instagram icon"></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@peoplefor_"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/social-links/tiktok.svg" alt="TikTok"></a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field__item"><div> <div class="field field--name-field-media-image field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <a href="https://bsky.app/profile/peoplefor.bsky.social"><img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/social-links/Blueskylogo1.svg" alt="Bluesky's logo shaped like a butterfly"></a> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="field field--name-field-footer-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/give-now">Donate</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/become-member">Membership</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/media-center">Media Center</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/careers-people-american-way">Careers</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/contact-us">Contact Us</a></div> </div> </div> <div class="group-left"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-signup-form field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><h2>Sign Up</h2> <script data-cfasync="false" src="/cdn-cgi/scripts/5c5dd728/cloudflare-static/email-decode.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.8.3/jquery.min.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://act.pfaw.org/resources/actionkit.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript">actionkit.forms.initPage()</script> <form class="action_form" name="act" method="POST" action="https://act.pfaw.org/act/" accept-charset="utf-8"> <div id="signup-form" class="ak-grid-col ak-grid-col-6-of-12 ak-styled-fields ak-labels-overlaid ak-errs-below"> <ul class="compact" id="ak-errors"></ul> <div id="ak-fieldbox-email" class="form-row required"> <label for="id_email"> Email address <span class="ak-required-flag">*</span> </label> <input type="text" name="email" id="id_email" class="ak-userfield-input" placeholder="Email address"> </div> <input type="hidden" name="country" value="United States"> <div class="form-row form-submit"> <button type="submit" class="full">Sign Up</button> </div> </div> <input type="hidden" name="page" value="signup-peoplefor"> </form> <script type="text/javascript"> actionkit.forms.contextRoot = 'https://act.pfaw.org/context/'; actionkit.forms.initForm('act'); </script></div> </div> <div class="group-right"> <div class="clearfix text-formatted field field--name-field-address field--type-text-long field--label-hidden field__item"><p>1101 15th Street NW, Suite 600<br>Washington, DC 20005</p></div> <div class="field field--name-field-footer-logo field--type-image field--label-hidden field__item"> <img loading="lazy" src="/sites/default/files/footer-logo/footer-logo.svg" alt="People for the American Way logo" /> </div> </div> <div class="group-footer"> <div class="field field--name-field-utility-links field--type-link field--label-hidden field__items"> <div class="field__item"><a href="/privacy-policy">Privacy Policy</a></div> <div class="field__item"><a href="/disclaimer-and-copyright-information">Disclaimer and copyright information</a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </footer> </div> </div> </div> <script src="/sites/default/files/js/js_o106R1NYrkZqr1EO8ZARaN-LsDe_IunNATQ2LnzfIro.js?scope=footer&delta=0&language=en&theme=people_for_theme&include=eJxljEEOwyAMBD8E4UnIUMehNRgZI4W-vjm0h7aX1c6stAnNUOOQXIDjOEBLo5immbQRsvTl81TFZn4qu6zwXEgUPsXhaVzaI9x0duDtjY5EiDEaUKArfnmDO5zfsrqO0i_cRaMdWDEQSwL2w9b1Sf97F157YR7OUqxIULHNkGDgC9ehVH8"></script> <script src="//act.pfaw.org/samples/widget.js" id="widgetScript"></script> </body> </html>