When Books Become Crimes: Florida’s Dangerous Censorship of Public Libraries Escalates

In a brazen display of political intimidation, the Florida State Board of Education leveled shocking allegations against school administrators. During a recent meeting, board members threatened Hillsborough County Superintendent Van Ayres with criminal prosecution if he did not immediately remove Forever by Judy Blume, along with other award-winning titles, from school libraries.

From Librarians to “Child Abusers”: Florida Board Crosses the Line

Board member Dr. Grazie Christie was recorded saying,

“Have you considered firing all your media specialists and starting from scratch with women and men who can read or have a single shred of decency? These people that you trust to review these materials are abusing the children of your county. They’re child abusers.”

This inflammatory, unsubstantiated, and incredibly harmful claim prompted Superintendent Ayres to concede to the permanent banning of more than fifty titles. In doing so, he bypassed the district’s established review process, which includes committee evaluations and parental input, setting a troubling precedent for state-sponsored censorship in public schools.

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No Objections, Just Removals: The New Normal

Since the incident, hundreds of books have been removed or are pending review. Popular and critically acclaimed titles such as Sold by Patricia McCormick; Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation, adapted by Ari Folman and illustrated by David Polonsky; What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold; and A Stolen Life: A Memoir by Jaycee Dugard are among those permanently banned or flagged for further scrutiny.

Crucially, none of these books were under review due to a formal complaint from a local parent. “What is unfolding in Hillsborough County is not the measured application of parental concern. It is a calculated effort to consolidate power through fear, to bypass legal precedent, and to silence diverse voices in Florida’s public schools,” wrote PEN America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting freedom of expression. This trend of politically motivated censorship is part of a broader pattern documented in The Censorship Acceleration report by EveryLibrary.

Further analysis revealed that none of the removed books met the legal definition of pornography as defined by the Supreme Court in Miller v. California (1973). In many cases, removal was based on themes involving LGBTQ+ characters, menstruation, birth control, or other so-called “mature” topics, despite no evidence that board members had read the books in question. 

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Why This Isn’t Just About Books

This extreme overreach of governmental authority has set a chilling example for future educators. The Florida State Board of Education disregarded district protocol, parental input, and due process to enforce personal religious and moral views on public school children. Such actions run counter to the principles of intellectual freedom and represent a malicious attack on teachers, librarians, administrators, and the rights of families.

Diverse reading materials foster empathy and broaden students’ understanding of the world, cultivating informed and compassionate citizens. The erosion of these freedoms threatens the foundation of equitable education in a democratic society.

Stand Up, Speak Out

You can make a difference. Support EveryLibrary in our mission to combat censorship by donating to fund essential resources and advocacy. Speak out in your community. Stand with your local educators and librarians in defending access to books and information for all students.

Visit www.everylibrary.org to learn more about our work on behalf of libraries. 

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