Censorship harms those we should be trying to protect
Get Rhode Map
A weekday briefing from veteran Rhode Island reporters, focused on the things that matter most in the Ocean State.
Enter Email
Sign Up
According to
Advertisement
Book bans also frequently target books with LGBTQ+ characters, according to Pen America.
Advertisement
Pen America also states that books that depict rape or sexual violence were banned in a quarter of the more than 3,000 books targeted from June 2022 to July 2023. Silencing stories of rape and sexual violence silences survivors of rape and sexual violence. Banning books by and about the survival of rape and sexual assault perpetuates harm on those who have suffered the most. Authors can find power in telling their stories, factually or through fiction. Readers can find solace and community in these same stories. We are harming them by removing their stories from libraries.
The
My question is: Who are we protecting? If not our LGBTQIA teens, our BIPOC children, our public library staff, our school librarians, our children's book authors, our survivors of sexual assault, then who? And why?
The bills that have been put forward do not mandate that any child, adolescent, student, or parent be required to read any book. The bills don't mandate libraries purchase any book or type of book. They don't require that authors and illustrators write or draw or create any specific book or type of book. In fact, they make clear that reconsideration requests made by those with a vested interest in the public library or school library can still continue. And library staff will be protected by not just the
Advertisement
Let Rhode Island continue to grow and change in the direction of
Nicole P. Dyszlewski is one of the leaders of the Rhode Island Freedom to Read Coalition, and a professor and assistant dean at Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol, R.I.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Yahoo
City Council decides not to issue Pride Month proclamation
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — The Colorado Springs City Council is not issuing a formal proclamation for Pride Month. While Pride Month proclamations had been issued in previous years, the City Council has decided not to issue a formal one for Pride Month in 2025. When asked why, the City Council gave various reasons. >>Pikes Peak Pride returns to Downtown Colorado Springs 'As a non-partisan legislative body, we believe our role is not to engage in identity-based or political gestures, but to focus on governance that benefits all residents. We want to be clear: we welcome everyone to Colorado Springs. We support the rights of every individual to live safely, freely, and with dignity. We extend our best wishes for a safe, respectful, and successful event, and we remain committed to ensuring our city is a place where all people feel valued and secure. Our decision is rooted in a desire to avoid divisive or performative politics. Instead, we aim to serve every citizen equally, without favor or pandering, and focus on the issues that unite us—such as public safety, infrastructure, economic vitality, and quality of life.' City Council Leadership The City Council noted that although they are not issuing a proclamation, they supported Pikes Peak Pride with money from the LART fund. 'We are sad to learn of the City Council's decision not to proclaim for Pride Month this year, as they've done for the last several years,' Pikes Peak Pride said. 'We're thankful to Mayor Yemi and his office for coming to the Pride Festival and issuing a Mayoral Proclamation again this year. We believe that repeals to diversity, equity, and inclusion from the federal level down are hurting minority groups across the board. Pikes Peak Pride exists to represent and provide visibility for our LGBTQIA+ community, and we thank those who show up and speak up for Pride Week. We see you. We hear you.' The Pride crosswalk will also not be installed. 'Due to accessibility and safety concerns, the City is not allowing crosswalks to be modified for any events,' said a City of Colorado Springs spokesperson. 'The City is providing outdoor space at the Pioneers Museum, where Pride is being held, for decoration by event organizers.' Pikes Peak Pride will celebrate Pride Month, love, identity, and community in Downtown Colorado Springs on Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15. The Pride Parade is also set to occur on Sunday at 11 a.m. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
CBS News
18 hours ago
- CBS News
Pulse nightclub shooting survivors and family members tour building before demolition
Survivors and family members of the victims of the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting are touring the inside of the building for a final look before it's torn down. About 250 people accepted the city of Orlando's invitation to tour the building where Omar Mateen, who had pledged allegiance to the Islamic State group, killed 49 people and wounded 53 others during a Latin Night celebration at the popular LGBTQIA+ club on June 12, 2016. Mateen was killed following an hourslong standoff with police. At the time, it was the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. The shooting at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas would eclipse the Pulse shooting's death toll the following year. The visits, which coincide with the shooting's nine-year mark, are being done in small groups over the course of four days, with survivors and family members spending about a half hour inside, according to The Associated Press. Christine Leionen lost her only child, 32-year-old Christopher, in the shooting. Wednesday marked the first time she saw where her son was killed. "My son died on that dance floor. He was shot nine times, and he bled to death on that dance floor," she told CBS News. She said going to Pulse was "a way to try to experience his last seconds of life. I just want to feel closer to him." Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, who also visited the site, said the visit "took me back nine years." "Reflecting on being in the command center on Orange Avenue as all the things are transpiring and, eventually, the shooting of the killer and then the realization of just how many people were impacted," he said, according to CBS affiliate WKMG-TV. Dyer said the people visiting included 25 of the 49 victims' families. The city of Orlando is planning to build a permanent memorial where the building currently stands. City officials approved a plan to buy the property for $2 million back in 2023, following several previous failed attempts to buy the land. Family members and some survivors had been pushing for a permanent memorial for years before the purchase. But some of the families and survivors still have questions about whether more could have been done to prevent the shooting or if police could have done more to save people. Questions also surround the ensuing investigation and the issue of whether the attack was a hate crime. "I lived that night, but it's a constant sacrifice to keep moving every day," survivor Maritza Gomez told WKMG back when the city approved the plan to buy the property. "I don't think that Pulse should be diminished. I think that an investigation should be taken care of first." and contributed to this report.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
‘Disturbing': NYC lawmakers seek investigation into NYPD-ICE collaboration
Editor's note: The video above aired in a previous newscast. NEW YORK (PIX11) – New York City Council members are urging the Department of Investigations (DOI) to investigate whether the NYPD is sharing information with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Speaker Adrienne Adams, Council Member Gale Brewer, and Commissioner Jocelyn E. Strauber have requested the DOI investigate the NYPD's alleged collaboration with federal authorities. They are concerned that civil immigration enforcement may violate local laws. More Local News 'In recent days, we've witnessed masked agents of the Trump administration detain people following the law targeting our neighbors,' Speaker Adams said in a video posted to her X account. 'This is not about public safety; it makes us less safe. Reports that NYPD collaboration and information shared with federal agencies are being used in civil immigration proceedings are disturbing.' Adams also pointed out that sharing information with ICE for immigration enforcement violates New York City law since New York is a sanctuary city: a sanctuary city limits or declines to cooperate with the federal government's immigration law enforcement. In a press conference on Monday, NYPD Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said the force does not engage in civil immigration enforcement. In an email to PIX11 News, a spokesperson for the NYPD issued the following statement: 'The NYPD does not engage in civil immigration enforcement, period. As it has for many years, the NYPD works with local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies on criminal investigations, including work on federal criminal task forces. That work is critical to getting dangerous individuals out of our communities, protecting our city from terrorism, and keeping our families safe.' Since January, the department has been under fire for working with ICE agents to 'go after criminals.' In May, the NYPD gave federal immigration authorities an internal record about a Palestinian woman arrested at a protest, now used by the Trump administration as evidence to deport her, according to court documents obtained by The Associated Press. Matthew Euzarraga is a multimedia journalist from El Paso, Texas. He has covered local news and LGBTQIA topics in the New York City Metro area since 2021. He joined the PIX11 Digital team in 2023. You can see more of his work here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
