[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition: Add Amanda Gorman's book of poetry, "The Hill We
Climb," to every recommended reading list in the country.

Dear MoveOn member,

Florida recently passed a law that allows schools to more easily ban,
restrict, and censor books.^1 Amanda Gorman—the first National Youth Poet
Laureate who made history as the youngest inaugural poet when she read
"The Hill We Climb" during President Joe Biden's inauguration in
2021—experienced the ramifications of the law firsthand when her book of
poetry was shockingly challenged by a parent in the Miami-Dade County
school district.^2

The complaint claimed that the book of poetry was "not educational" and
contained indirect hate speech.^3 After a rushed review, the school
restricted access to the book for younger audiences, deeming it
inappropriate for elementary students. This is outrageous, and we won't
stand for it. 

Our freedom to read—and to make decisions about what our students and
children can read—is being stripped away by concerted attacks from
right-wing parents and Republican legislators dead set on politicizing our
schools. But we can make sure every student has the opportunity to be
captivated by Gorman's powerful words and embrace the beauty of diverse
literature. 

[ [link removed] ]Add your name to the petition if you believe historic books like "The
Hill We Climb" should not only be available to young readers but
encouraged.

Fight back against censorship. Join us in calling for Amanda Gorman's "The
Hill We Climb" to be added to recommended reading lists across the
country. 

[3]Sign the Petition

With Governor Ron DeSantis fanning the flames, a small but loud group of
conservative parents have been galvanized under the new law and begun
challenging books in schools across the state—disproportionately censoring
LGBTQ+ books and books about race and racial diversity.^4 It's the right
wing's latest tactic designed to eradicate conversations students have in
the classroom around genocide, white supremacy, gender, and sexuality.

We can't sit idly by while books disappear from our schools due to one-off
complaints and rushed committee reviews. These complaints are being
orchestrated by right-wing parents who want to take away our ability to
read freely and learn a full, honest account of history.

We need to come together collectively to push back against challenges,
restrictions, and bans whenever and wherever they pop up. We need to
proactively work to increase the number of diverse books featured in our
schools and libraries—and we need to fight to keep them on the shelves. 

[ [link removed] ]Sign now to call on the Department of Education and state education
departments, as well as librarians and teachers across the United States,
to add "The Hill We Climb" to every associated recommended reading list in
the country.

There are many "recommended reading lists" put out by schools, local
libraries, youth-oriented nonprofits, newspapers, websites, TV hosts, and
more.These lists often inform students and their families about what books
to read. While Republican leaders may want to strip away Amanda Gorman's
moving poetry, we are calling upon thousands of individuals and
institutions to recommend it. 

[ [link removed] ]Together, we can protect the freedom to read and ensure that important
works like "The Hill We Climb" aren't hidden away or dismissed.

Thanks for all you do. 

–Aliya, Isbah, Chrissy, Jensine, and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Florida at center of debate as school book bans surge nationally," The
New York Times, April 23, 2023 
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

2. "1 complaint led a Florida school to restrict access to Amanda Gorman's
famous poem," NPR, May 25, 2023 
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

3. "Florida elementary school removes Amanda Gorman's poem from Biden's
inauguration," ABC7, May 24, 2023 
[ [link removed] ][link removed]

4. "Who's Behind the Escalating Push to Ban Books? A New Report Has
Answers," Education Week, September 28, 2022 
[ [link removed] ][link removed]




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 monthly to power our critical work? 



[ [link removed] ]Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month.

[ [link removed] ]No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.







--------------------------------------------------------------------------

PAID FOR BY MOVEON POLITICAL ACTION,
[ [link removed] ][link removed]?. MoveOn Political Action - PO Box
96142, Washington, D.C. 20090-6142. Not authorized by any candidate or
candidate's committee.



You can unsubscribe from this mailing list at any time:
[link removed]