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John,
In recent weeks and months, the radical right wing’s attempts to limit intellectual freedoms through the banning of books have taken a disturbing turn.
No longer satisfied with threatening criminal charges and wrecking the livelihoods of teachers and librarians across the country, some extremists have escalated to threats of bombings and other violence against mainstream libraries and their patrons.
Recently multiple bomb threats have been received at an Oklahoma school district, seven public libraries in the suburbs of Chicago, as well as public libraries in Iowa City, and in Lincolnshire, Wilmette, and Park Ridge, Illinois.
In Davis, California, the FBI is investigating multiple bomb threats against the public library, specifically targeting the LGBTQ+ community. These threats followed the library’s decision not to allow Moms for Liberty to hold a speaker series there due to their failure to comply with the library’s Code of Conduct.
Sign the petition and tell Congress, we need to make sure public libraries are safe spaces for everyone, where patrons, students, families, and staff can read, study, and work without fear of violence now.
The threats are becoming more violent, but they are an outgrowth of the nationwide increase in book bans and censorship of books with themes concerning, or written by, people of color and the LGBTQ+ community. Banning a book is coercive, and bomb threats are more coercive yet. The extremists’ tactics are escalating.
Congress must provide funds to provide security, and create protocols to ensure that libraries are centers of intellectual freedom for their communities, offering safe spaces for learning and study.
Libraries are also about the creation of community, a gathering place that celebrates the mind. They offer children’s story hours and meeting places for clubs devoted to interests that range from gardening to model trains. Violent threats are intended to stifle these safe spaces.
The intention is to close the minds of people while creating an atmosphere of fear and intimidation. We urge Congress to take immediate action to defend our libraries, to support freedom of speech and of thought, and to uphold the core values of democracy.
Sign the petition to Congress: Protect public libraries!
Thank you for helping ensure our public libraries remain safe and inviting communities for learning.
- Amanda
Amanda Ford, Director
Democracy for America
Advocacy Fund
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