The war on libraries is being fought on two fronts. On the first, we have extremists calling on librarians to repent for the sin of building collections and offering programming related to LGBTQ+ experiences. Proud Boys show up armed to protest Drag Queen Story Hours. The cops are called to investigate allegedly “obscene” materials on the shelves during Pride month. The second front… Source Source / Read More: As the Public Focuses on Book Bans, the Right Is Quietly Defunding Libraries
book bans
Book-Banning Attempts in US Have Reached Unprecedented Level, Libraries Report
Right-wing attempts to ban books are showing no sign of slowing down, according to a report released Friday by the American Library Association — and in fact have reached an unprecedented level, with libraries and bookstores increasingly facing legal threats over the materials on their shelves. The organization, which has been tracking book-banning efforts for more than 20 years, found that so far in 2022, parents and other community members have “challenged” 1,651 different books and have issued 681 complaints across the country. 681 challenges to books in the first eight months of this year, involving 1,651 different titles. #UniteAgainstBookBans…
China: Long-delayed UN report must spur accountability for crimes against humanity in Xinjiang
Responding to the long-awaited release of the UN Office of High Commissioner for Human Rights’ report on serious human rights violations in China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, Amnesty International’s Secretary General Agnès Callamard said: “This 46-page document lays bare the scale and severity of the human rights violations taking place in Xinjiang – which Amnesty […] The post China: Long-delayed UN report must spur accountability for crimes against humanity in Xinjiang appeared first on Amnesty International.
More Book Bans Sought in 2021 Than Any Other Point in Past 20 Years, Group Says
Findings from a library organization published on Monday showcase that efforts from right wing groups and parents across the country to restrict access to books represent the highest number of challenges to book titles since the year 2000. According to the American Library Association (ALA), which has been tracking such challenges for over 20 years, more than 700 challenges were made in 2021. These efforts to ban books were directed toward ones that were written by or depict the lives of Black or LGBTQ individuals. “ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom tracked 729 challenges to library, school and university materials and…