RELEASE: This World Book Day, Republicans Continue to Push Extreme Book Bans & Threaten Librarians
WASHINGTON — Today is World Book Day, a day reserved to celebrate reading and books. However, the day takes on a darker tone in the U.S. this year given books are under unprecedented attack amid Republican school culture wars. Last year alone, Republican state legislators and school districts passed bans that impacted over 1,500 books. As if that isn’t extreme enough, at least 100 bills are being considered across 27 states this year to further restrict books and criminalize librarians and classroom discussion.
Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Communications Director Abhi Rahman issued the following statement:
“This World Book Day is a reminder of the fundamental role that books play in educating kids and bringing learning to all generations. Unfortunately, books are under unprecedented attack in the U.S. amid Republican culture wars, undermining classroom discussion around important topics like race, sexuality, and gender identity. Classrooms should be environments that encourage learning and exploration – not authoritarian spaces that stifle discussion. Book bans are censorship – point blank – which threatens our very democracy. Republicans will find themselves on the wrong side of history with these dangerous culture wars, and Democrats in the states are fighting back.”