Pages tagged "press release"
Press Release: Coalition of Texans United in the Fight for the Freedom to Read Issues Joint Statement and Calls on State Legislature to End Censorship attempts.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 28, 2025
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Laney Hawes, Texas Freedom to Read Project (TXFTRP) [email protected]
Carolyn Foote, Texas FReadom Fighters [email protected]
Cameron Samuels, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT) [email protected]
Chris Barton, Texas Author [email protected]
[Texas, USA] — Today, a broad coalition of educational, civil rights, and literary advocacy organizations—including Texas Freedom to Read Project, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), the Institute of Letters, Authors Against Book Bans, Texas FReadom Fighters, ACLU of Texas, and EveryLibrary—released a Joint Statement in Support of the Freedom to Read in Texas. The statement directly addresses legislative efforts that threaten to undermine the constitutional right to free speech and access to information across the state’s schools, public libraries, and bookstores.
In light of recent laws and potential new bills targeting reading materials, the coalition’s Joint Statement calls upon the 89th Texas Legislature to reject any new legislation that further restricts access to books in schools, libraries, or bookstores, uphold Article One of the Texas State Constitution, which guarantees the liberty to speak, write, and publish opinions without government interference, and preserve local decision-making by librarians, educators, and families rather than centralized, politically motivated censorship.
Carolyn Foote, of Texas FReadom Fighters explains, “Librarians know the importance of creating a welcoming climate that allows students to get the resources they need to thrive and grow. Students deserve the right to read stories about their lives and the lives of their families on the shelves of libraries.”
“There is no more fundamental freedom than the right to read, to learn, and to access information and ideas” said Laney Hawes, co-founder of the Texas Freedom to Read Project. “These attempts at censorship for political gain especially affect our children and the young people of Texas. We don’t want to co-parent with the government. As parents, we know our children best. This influx of censorship runs contrary to the guiding principles in our state constitution. We urge our legislators to stand with us in upholding our rights.”
"Students face detrimental impacts of book bans every day as censorship places limits on our liberty and erases stories our world is built upon. Every student deserves to find themself on school shelves, but policymakers are attempting to equate our realities with vulgarity,” explains Cameron Samuels, Executive Director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT). “If we are to learn about the dangers of substance abuse, navigate the horrors of sexual violence, or prevent human trafficking, we need uncensored access to stories that challenge the unjust status quo and help us tackle Texas-sized problems. If students can't read it in a book, our generation will grow up ignorant, misinformed, and feeble. Books challenge us to be the best of ourselves. Censorship leaves us in the dark."
While these legislative challenges play out at the state level, their potential ramifications resonate far beyond Texas. Censorship anywhere undermines constitutional freedoms everywhere, setting a dangerous precedent that other states may follow.
“What happens in Texas doesn’t stay in Texas,” said John Chrastka, Executive Director of EveryLibrary, a national political action committee for libraries. “State-sponsored censorship in Texas emboldens attempts to stifle free speech across the nation. It is critical—for the freedom to read in every community—that Texas lawmakers reject these unconstitutional book bans.”
The coalition urges all Texans—parents, educators, librarians, and community members alike—to join us by signing on to the letter and to learn more and take action against anti-library, anti-access, and anti-reader legislation. Visit https://www.txftrp.org to read the full letter, explore additional resources, and join the fight to protect the constitutional right to read.
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Full text of the letter sent to Texas legislators on January 28, 2025:
United in the Fight for the Freedom to Read in Texas
On January 28, 2025 Texas Freedom to Read Project, along with a broad coalition of local, state and national partners and allies issued a joint statement affirming our shared commitment to fight for the freedom to read in our state during the 89th legislative session, and beyond.
Read MorePress Release: Katy ISD Board to Vote on "Gender Fluidity" Book Ban Proposal
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2024
(Katy, TEXAS, USA)- Texas Freedom to Read Project strongly opposes the EFB Local Policy Revisions to be voted on by the Katy Independent School District School Board of Trustees on Monday, August 26.
The proposed revision to EFB Local: Instructional Resources Library Materials states, “No materials in elementary and junior high libraries shall contain material adopting, supporting, or promoting gender fluidity as defined in Local Policy FA. Material in any high school library collection that adopts, supports, or promotes gender fluidity requires parental opt in for student access.”
Texas Freedom to Read Project believes adoption of school library book policies like this miss the point of libraries. In a school district like Katy ISD where nearly 40% of students are identified as economically disadvantaged, the school library may provide a student’s only access to books outside of those available in their classrooms.
Further, school library books accessible to students for voluntary inquiry and self-selection are not required reading and should not be treated as such. School libraries provide opportunities for students to safely explore and encounter ideas, perspectives, and stories they may not otherwise have access to, and should not be subject to ideological censorship by the government.
Katy ISD’s current EFB Local Policy states “The District recognizes that parents hold an essential role in the education of their children and have the right to guide what their children read” and that “the ultimate determination of appropriateness lies with the parent.”
Katy ISD mom and Texas Freedom to Read Project co-founder Anne Russey says, “I trust my children’s Katy ISD librarians to select age relevant books for our school’s library. My elementary school aged daughters understand if they don’t like a library book, they can return it and pick a different one. Parents who wish to opt their own children out of library access, or access to certain book titles continue to have every right to do so. Restricting and banning library books because of ideas they contain takes away my right, as a parent, to determine what books are appropriate for my kids.”
Another proposed EFB Local policy revision reads, “All vendors selected by the District shall adhere to the District’s library guidelines and Board Policy. This includes vendors and fundraisers selected for book fairs or the distribution of literature.” This change may create obstacles to partnerships with local booksellers and fundraising partners like Scholastic or Literati whose retail inventories may include “gender fluidity books,” limiting fundraising potential and opportunities during a time when Texas public school districts are facing a budget crisis.
Texas Freedom to Read Project encourages Katy ISD community members to register their concerns about the proposed policy revisions to EFB Local at the school board meeting scheduled for Monday, August 26 at 5pm, or to email the board of trustees. Speaker sign up instructions can be found on the Katy ISD website.
To learn more, get involved, and support the work of Texas Freedom to Read Project, visit www.txftrp.org. Follow and connect with Texas Freedom to Read Project on X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, Threads and Facebook. (@txfreedomread)
About Texas Freedom to Read Project
Texas Freedom to Read Project strives to defend, protect and preserve the rights of every Texan, especially public school students, to freely read and access information and ideas. We are parent founded and parent led. Our mission is to support, connect and mobilize parent & community member led initiatives fighting for student rights and against censorship and book bans in Texas.
And while this should go without saying, Texas Freedom to Read Project does not believe pornography belongs in schools. In cases where a parent has a genuine concern about a book they believe is not age relevant or appropriate for any students, we advocate strongly for parents and school districts to follow board-approved policies to request formal reconsideration of the material.
Texas Freedom to Read Project
Fighting Book Bans & Defending the Right to Read. Parent founded. Parent led.
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