Dear MoveOn member,
Later today, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024
presidential race, and we want to make sure that voters across the country
know exactly who he is.^1
To achieve this, we want to create a "Banned Bookmobile," fill it with
books that DeSantis has banned from schools in Florida, and drive it
around the state handing those books out, for free, in highly trafficked
areas that will attract media attention.
And if we have the funds, we'll take it on tour, following DeSantis to his
campaign stops across the country, giving out banned books, hosting events
with authors and advocates, and making sure the press covers it as much as
possible.
[ [link removed] ]But we need your help to do it, John. Will you chip
in $3 to help us buy as many copies of DeSantis's banned
books as we can, give them away for free, and hammer DeSantis and the GOP
with bad press?
DeSantis has positioned himself as the "more electable" version of Donald
Trump and said that he wants to "Make America Florida" by bringing the
extremist policies he has implemented as governor to the entire
country.^2,3
Policies that are, in a word, dystopian.
In the past year alone, DeSantis has instituted all of these fascistic
policies in Florida:
* Sweeping book bans targeting books written by or about people of color
and the LGBTQ+ community, books about antisemitism and the rise of the
Nazis, and accurate descriptions of American history, leaving school
libraries empty.^4
* Banned the teaching of AP African American History in Florida
classrooms, claiming that the course "lacks educational value."^5
* Signed one of the strictest abortion bans in the country, banning the
procedure after six weeks, long before many people even know they are
pregnant.^6
* Passed laws making it a felony to provide gender-affirming care for
trans youth and making it even more difficult for trans adults to
access care.^7
* Expanded his "Don't Say Gay" bill through 12th grade.^8
* And much, much more.
That is DeSantis's—and the MAGA movement's—vision for America. And we want
to make sure that Americans know exactly what that means.
That's where our Banned Bookmobile comes in.
We will use this as an opportunity to have conversations with voters about
the MAGA vision for our country, provide resources for people to get
involved to help defeat the GOP in 2024, and make sure that—as often as
possible—any coverage of DeSantis's campaign events include mentions of
our bookmobile.
All while giving out as many banned books as possible to students and
others who have lost access to them thanks to people like Ron DeSantis.
[ [link removed] ]But in order to do it, we will need to rent the vehicle, outfit it, and
buy hundreds or even thousands of books to give out. Which is where you
come in. Can you make a gift of $3 right now to help stock
our Banned Bookmobile with books that DeSantis and the GOP are afraid of
us reading?
John, GOP candidates like DeSantis and even Trump himself are
desperate to downplay their extreme policies in public because they know
that the overwhelming majority of Americans disagree with them, and if
voters knew the truth, they wouldn't cast a ballot for them.
That's why our bookmobile is so important. This is the type of highly
visible tactic that the media love to cover, and the more we can get the
word out about not just DeSantis but the GOP as a whole, the less they can
hide from the consequences of their own actions.
[ [link removed] ]Are you in? Chip in $3 now to help us buy as many banned
books as possible and ensure that DeSantis and his GOP cronies feel the
heat.
Thanks for all you do.
–David, Kelsey, Rahna, Allison, and the rest of the team
Sources:
1. "Ron DeSantis to kick off 2024 presidential campaign in conversation
with Twitter owner Elon Musk," CNN, May 24, 2023
[link removed]
2. "Ron DeSantis is learning that not every state wants to be Florida,"
NBC News, May 22, 2023
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3. "'Biden and Me': DeSantis Privately Tells Donors Trump Can't Win," The
New York Times, May 18, 2023
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4. "Banned in the USA: State Laws Supercharge Book Suppression in
Schools," PEN America, accessed May 24, 2023
[link removed]
5. "DeSantis defends banning African American studies course as Black
leaders call for action," Politico, January 24, 2023
[link removed]
6. "DeSantis signs Florida’s 6-week abortion ban into law," Politico,
April 13, 2023
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7. "DeSantis signs Florida ban on transgender treatment for minors,"
Reuters, May 18, 2023
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8. "DeSantis signs 'Don't Say Gay' expansion and gender-affirming care
ban," NBC News, May 17, 2023
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Want to support MoveOn's work? Voters just defied history and stopped a
MAGA wave of extremism at the polls. But there is more work to do to end
the filibuster, codify abortion rights into law, and defend our freedoms,
our families, and our futures. We can accomplish all this and more, but
only if we work together.
Will you chip in right now to power our critical work?
[ [link removed] ]Click here to chip in $3, or whatever you can afford.
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