No place, culture, or idea has ever been inaccessible to us thanks to the vast array of books available to us through our schools and our local libraries. You don’t even have to leave your living room to learn something exciting and new. This fundamental right and privilege is under attack by extreme MAGA Republicans who want to decide for you and your family what you can and cannot read.
In Florida alone, 2,700 titles were targeted for restriction or removal in schools and public libraries. The MAGA Republicans behind these challenges claim they are working to protect children. But teachers, librarians, and parents know that book bans prevent children from helping them learn independently and discourages them from learning key critical thinking skills. And, the fact of the matter is, most people from both political parties object to book bans. Extreme Republicans have no right to tell us what we should and should not read, in defiance of what the vast majority of us want, which is free access to the books that allow our imaginations to grow.
These extremists are closer than you think. Republicans like Stefanik, Williams, Vance, and Trump want to make it a crime for librarians and teachers to share books that MAGA Republicans want banned. Their plan is outlined as clear as day in their thousand-page book on limiting freedoms in this country known as Project 2025 by the Heritage Foundation.
America has always prided itself on its freedom of expression, its free flow of creativity and innovation, and its democracy. This November, do not let extremist MAGA Republicans take this away from us. Vote for Harris/Walz. Vote for Collins or Mannion. Vote to preserve our democracy and our freedom.
Sara Mohr
Utica, NY
