Get trained with Keep Marching to stop book bans!
[ [link removed] ]Take Action Now
[ [link removed] ]RSVP NOW

Dear Friend,

Book bans and attempted book bans are happening in schools and libraries
across America right now.  

It’s shocking AND we can stop it - but first we need to know how. And
that’s why MomsRising is bringing in the experts! 

→ [ [link removed] ]Next week on Wednesday, September, 13th at 8:30pm EST / 5:30pm PST,
the Florida Freedom to Read Project, a mom-led grassroots organization on
the frontlines of fighting Florida’s book bans, will be giving us the 411
on how to fight censorship efforts. 

[ [link removed] ]Can you join this important #KeepMarching virtual call?

It’s not just Florida and it’s not just conservative states: The attacks
on books, schools, and the freedom to learn is growing across the
country. 

Far-right MAGA Republican Governors and state legislatures across the
nation have been using political tricks to erode accurate and
age-appropriate education, attack LGBTQ+ communities, and ban books. Fake
“parents'” groups are targeting even progressive counties to try to ban
books from public schools. It’s critical that we all have the tools to
fight this censorship machine! 

In this training, we will cover topics like: 

* What constitutes a book ban and what are the different types of bans
* How is this happening and why  
* How to track “book challenges” that lead to bans in your community  
* Strategies to increase access to diverse books via schools and/or
school boards 
* How to disrupt politically motivated book bans 

[ [link removed] ]Learn how they are doing it! Sign up for this #KeepMarching meeting
now!

What books are being pulled? Plain and simple, books about diverse
communities, history, and LGBTQ+ families and communities. Books like
“Black Boy Joy”, “When Aidan Became a Brother,” and the “Anne Frank's
Diary: The Graphic Adaptation.” [1,2] 

Yes. You read those titles right. Earlier this year in Pinellas County, a
school age book about the story of the famous civil rights activist Ruby
Bridges who helped integrate schools in New Orleans when she was
6-years-old was challenged and the iconic Disney film about Ruby Bridges
was banned outright due to one. single. complaint. [3] 

Just one complaint meant none of the kids could learn about Ruby Bridges
until other parents filed formal measures to get it back in. But
unfortunately there are so many far-right politically motivated attacks
happening that parents and local communities in Florida and in other
states need back up: 

* According to PEN America, between July and December 2022, instances of
individual book bans occurred in 66 school districts in 21 states with
Texas, Florida, Missouri, Utah, and South Carolina experiencing the
most bans, [ [link removed] ]
* Between January and September 2021 alone, 24 legislatures across the
United States introduced 54 separate bills intended to restrict
teaching and training in K-12 schools, higher education, and state
agencies and institutions. The majority of these bills targeted
discussions of race, racism, gender, and American history [ [link removed] ], and 
* Right now, the ACLU is tracking over 200 anti-LGBTQ+ school and
education proposals across the country. [ [link removed] ]

[4]These coordinated attacks are NOT okay. Well-funded far-right
politicians are becoming a censorship machine actively working to ban
age-appropriate books, erase honest and accurate American history, and
attack students and teachers simply for who they love.

Friend, we know that together we can stop this book banning
machine. [5]It’s why you need to join our #KeepMarching virtual call on
September, 13th at 8:30pm EST / 5:30pm PST. We also know we need to get
the right information on fighting book bans and censorship in education to
as many people as possible. Will you help by forwarding this RSVP link to
5 friends, so they can join the call too?
[6][link removed]

Hope to see you there! Together, we'll #KeepMarching and never stop
fighting for the changes our families and communities need.

THANK YOU,

- Nina, Joy, and the whole MomsRising.org & MamásConPoder Team

 

References 

[1] [ [link removed] ]THESE 176 BOOKS WERE BANNED IN DUVAL COUNTY, FLORIDA, Pen America,
December 2022

[2] [ [link removed] ]Which books are allowed? Varied interpretations of Florida law lead
to confusion at schools, Tallahassee Democrat

[3] [ [link removed] ]Removal of ‘Ruby Bridges’ film from Pinellas school sparks outrage,
Tampa Bay Times, March 27, 2023

[4] [ [link removed] ]Banned in the USA: State Laws Supercharge Book Suppression in
Schools, Pen America, April 2023

[5] [ [link removed] ]Educational Gag Orders, Pen America

[6] [ [link removed] ]Mapping Attacks on LGBTQ Rights in U.S. State Legislatures, ACLU 

 


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

[ [link removed] ]Vote     [ [link removed] ]Facebook     [ [link removed] ]Twitter     [ [link removed] ]Radio     [ [link removed] ]Donate     

[ [link removed] ]Register to vote! / [ [link removed] ]¡Regístrese para votar!

[ [link removed] ]Join our Spanish language community, MamásConPoder.org

What should MomsRising tackle next? [ [link removed] ]Tell us!



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