John Oliver Talks About Book Bans at HuntingBeach, CA!
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As book bans and challenges to libraries continue to threaten parents' freedom to choose books for their families, writer and comedian John Oliver is calling attention to these baseless attacks. (Click to tweet this)
In the May 5th episode of Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, the famed television host highlighted the effects of book bans and strict rulings on public libraries, especially Huntington Beach Library. (click to tweet this)
EveryLibrary has been working with local parents and library supporters in Huntington Beach to help them fight back on our fightforthefirst.org platform! (click to tweet this)
They would love to see a national showing of support for their library.
Help show your support for the Huntington Beach Library!
Sign the petition and then click to share it on Facebook and Twitter to help get it signed!
Across the country, groups like Moms for Liberty and other conservative-leaning organizers have pushed to ban books and legislate away the rights of parents. As John Oliver pointed out in his segment, “93% of [book bans] involve attempts to censor multiple titles, with more than half involving 100 or more books.”
One such incident occurred in Huntington Beach, California, where members of the City Council have proposed to privatize their local libraries because the former Mayor works for a company that privatizes libraries. They are also restricting the purchasing and dispersal of books that some may deem to have “inappropriate” content for children. This despite protest from librarians and residents who fear this move will further tarnish the immense impact libraries have on communities and families.
Let the local community in Huntington Beach know that the country is behind them!
Sign the petition and then click to share it on Facebook and Twitter to help get it signed!
Earlier this year, Huntington Beach librarians found themselves forced to hand sift through thousands of books in the children’s sections of their libraries, removing books deemed to contain “sexual content” based on a proposal passed in June 2023 by the Huntington Beach City Council and backed by Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark.
Titles pulled from shelves included books about boats for including images of a child playing with toy boats during bathtime and of early explorers dressed in time period appropriate attire.
Educational books that help parents by discussing puberty like Own Your Period by Chella Quint and Puberty is Gross But Also Really Awesome by Gina Loveless and even the classic children’s book Everyone Poops by Taro Gomi.
We're proud that your donations have allowed us to support the local parents and communities members who are fighting for their library in Huntington Beach, CA!
The Huntington Beach library system hasn’t been the only one impacted by censorship attempts. Just last month, Toby Price, former assistant principal at Gary Road Elementary in Jackson Mississippi, went before a judge to fight for his former job, which he was fired from for reading the popular picture book I Need a New Butt! by Dawn McMillan to second graders. As of May 3, dozens of proposed bills across the country are poised to criminalize librarians and library workers for distributing “obscene” materials to children.
But there are ways to help. As John Oliver said to close out his episode, “All of which is basically just a long way of saying: libraries badly need our support right now, so they can continue to serve the diverse needs of their communities…”
One way you can help right now is by signing the Support the Huntington Beach Public Library petition on the Fight for the First platform to keep their library public.
Then click to share it on Facebook and Twitter to help get it signed!