Pages tagged "book bans"
Texas Freedom to Read Project Responds to Supreme Court’s Denial in Little v. Llano
Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court chose not to take up Little v. Llano County, allowing the en-banc decision of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to stand. We at Texas Freedom to Read Project are disappointed and gravely concerned about what this means not only for Texans, Mississippians, and Louisianans (those in the Fifth Circuit), but for the future of libraries and the freedom to read across this country.
Read MorePress Release: Texas Freedom to Read Project Responds to Supreme Court’s Denial of Review in Little v. Llano County
The Texas Freedom to Read Project (TXFTRP) is expressing deep concern after the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review Little v. Llano County, allowing the Fifth Circuit’s ruling to stand, a decision that significantly weakens First Amendment protections for public-library patrons across America, but especially across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.
The Fifth Circuit held that patrons no longer have the constitutional right to receive information and ideas in the form of library books and the concurring opinion went as far as to embrace the unfounded concept that libraries’ decisions about which books to remove are “government speech.” TXFTRP warns that this logic opens the door for local officials to purge books based on ideology rather than legitimate collection-development practices and turn public libraires into government propaganda centers.
“This decision effectively tells government officials they can remove books simply because they don’t like the ideas in them,” said Laney Hawes, co-founder of TXFTRP. “That is the opposite of what public libraries are meant to be.”
Contrary to claims that the case centered on “sexually explicit” materials, the 17 books removed from Llano County libraries included titles about racism, LGBTQ+ identity, civil rights, and American history, alongside several humorous children’s books. None were obscene.
“When you look at the actual list of books, it’s clear, this isn’t about protecting kids, it’s about controlling the flow of ideas.”said Frank Strong, co-founder. “It is about removing viewpoints some officials find uncomfortable.”
The dissenting judges in the Fifth Circuit underscored this point, warning that the majority’s ruling overturns decades of First Amendment precedent and ignores the political motivations behind the book removals.
“If this ruling stands unchallenged, any group with enough influence can pressure officials to pull books they disagree with,” said Anne Russey, co-founder. “That threatens the intellectual freedom of everyone in America and could be the end of libraries as we know them.”
TXFTRP is calling on communities nationwide to stay engaged and defend their libraries. “We need more Americans willing to show up, join library boards, run for school board, attend council meetings,” Hawes added. “The freedom to read and the future of American libraries depends on ordinary people refusing to let censorship become the norm.”
You can read TXFTRP’s full statement here.
Pinkalicious and 700+ other titles removed from Lamar Consolidated ISD, near Houston
No - this is not the latest satirical headline at The Onion. This is reality for the 49,000+ students who attend Lamar Consolidated ISD schools.
A public information request filed by Texas Freedom to Read Project confirmed that LCISD removed over 700 books from classrooms and school libraries at the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
Read MoreStories from Deep in the Heart of Texas: Nacogdoches ISD
The Daily Sentinel reported on May 8, 2025 that the district placed over 100 high school library books behind a "parent opt-in" restricted section of the library, after being contacted by a political activist and known book banning bully. Book banners have been sending intimidating emails containing hundreds of book titles they falsely claim are "illegal under HB 900" to school districts for the past year.
Read MoreSenate Bill 13: Another Step Towards Censorship, Not Solutions
Something no representative on either side of the political aisle seems to understand about Senate Bill 13 is that it’s not “House Bill 900 is not working” as the book banners like to claim. It’s that the 40 or so book banners who are driving their movement for the whole state refuse to take “no” for an answer.
Read MoreProtect Texas Public Libraries, Stop SB 2101
Senate Bill 2101, will be heard in the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee at 9am on Monday, April 28, 2025. Like its identical companion bill, House Bill 3225, Senate Bill 2101 is what Texas Freedom to Read Project cofounder, Frank Strong, describes as "a screaming red alarm for people who care about books, about the freedom to read, or about libraries."
Read MoreTwo Texas Book Bills You Can Act On Today!
The 89th Texas Legislative Session is in full swing. We're seeing some movement on several bills that would have significant negative impacts on public school and municipal libraries, booksellers, librarians and educators. Texans continue to face unprecedented threats to our freedom to read, but we are also seeing strong opposition to lots of the bad bills being debated and considered. We have no idea what bills will make it over the finish line and become law, but we know we are proud of the response we have seen our fellow Texans raise so far. Let's look at some of the bills we are tracking, and identify some steps you can take today to continue fighting against book bans and censorship in Texas, today!
Read MoreStop House Bill 3225
(Update as of May 5, 2025)- HB 3225 has been put on the calendar to be heard by the full House on Thursday, May 8. Contact your local rep now and ask them to "vote no on HB 3225."
(Update as of April 25, 2025)- the identical Senate Companion Bill 2101 for HB 3225, is scheduled for a committee hearing in Austin on Monday, April 28, 2025 at 9am. Info and calls to action can be found here.
By Frank Strong- originally published on Frank's Substack: Anger & Clarity.
House Bill 3225 will be heard in the Texas House of Representatives State Affairs Committee at 8:00 a.m next Monday, April 14. This is a screaming red alarm for people who care about books, about the freedom to read, or about libraries.
Read MoreCall and Email Your Texas Senator to Oppose SB13 Before It's Too Late!
Last week, the Texas Senate K-16 Education Committee voted 10-1 (Senator José Menéndez was the lone dissenting vote) to send SB13 to the full Senate for a vote.
Senate Bill 13- which is Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's priority bill to "guard against inappropriate books in public schools" is listed on the Regular Order of Business and likely to be taken up for a vote by the full Texas senate very soon.
Act now, before it's too late.
Read MoreMake Your Voice Heard: Oppose SB13
The Texas Senate K-16 Education Committee will hold a committee meeting and public hearing on a number of proposed senate bills on Thursday, February 27.
The meeting is scheduled to start around 10am, and may last all day. Members of the public are invited to provide testimony on the bills listed on the hearing notice- including Senate Bill 13- which is Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick's priority bill to "guard against inappropriate books in public schools."
So now is the time to make plans to travel to Austin, and/or start emailing your elected representatives and committee members.
Read More