The real threat to our youth

Let's talk about book bans.

We're seeing them pop up across the country, limiting what information and stories our students have access to. According to the American Library Association, the recent far-right book banning effort far exceeds anything we've seen in the past. Already in 2022, extremists have attempted to ban or restrict access to 1,651 titles, exceeding the 2021 total, and the year isn't over yet.

This is dangerous. And we must call it out for what it is: fascism.

The GOP has banned books from hundreds of libraries and classrooms. These books primarily feature LGTBQ+ or Black characters.

It's not hard to see what's going on.

This isn't just talk. The Fox News faithful have called the police to inspect the books on shelves. Teachers have had books removed from the curriculum and classrooms. Librarians have received death threats.

Librarians have received death threats.

For all their screaming about liberty and freedom of speech, radical Republicans sure do seem to love canceling anyone they disagree with. The hypocrisy is staggering.

Let's be very clear: books about LGBTQ+ families and Black people do not harm children.

Too many of my colleagues are afraid to enter the arena and fight for what is right. But if we aren't careful, we'll end up in a fascist nation where information is highly censored.

In the battle of freedom vs. censorship, the truth is the most powerful weapon we have. We must use it to stand up for librarians, for teachers, and most importantly, for our kids.

Jim