Latest news with #FreedomtoReadAct
Boston Globe
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Boston Globe
R.I. House passes ‘Freedom to Read Act' aimed at library ‘censorship'
Advertisement Morales said the legislation is needed because Rhode Island has had 25 attempts to censor books since 2021. The targeted books often involve matters of race and the LGBTQ+ community, he said, citing examples such as ' 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 But Representative Brian C. Newberry, a North Smithfield Republican, contended that there are no 'banned' books in Rhode Island. 'Books being banned means they are illegal and you can't find them,' he said. 'Let's drop the conceit that because a particular town or a particular librarian or school district doesn't want it, a book is banned. It's absolute nonsense.' Newberry said the original version of the bill was " terrible," but he said, 'You guys did a great job of basically gutting it, making it essentially pointless.' He said passage of the bill would 'take this issue off the table' and make advocates happy, but he said it would achieve nothing. Advertisement Newberry introduced an amendment to 'remove the stupid the title of the bill.' He said 'Freedom to Read Act' name 'makes no sense' and 'is designed to gin up fear.' He proposed calling it the 'Collection Policy Act.' Representative Tina L. Spears, a Charlestown Democrat, called for 'decorum,' saying Newberry shouldn't be throwing around words like 'stupid" in discussing the bill. Morales objected to Newberry's amendment, and said, 'This legislation encompasses a lot more than just establishing of collection policy.' He said it would set up a process for reviewing challenges to books by people with 'a vested interest' in the community, as well as an appeals process. Also, he noted it would allow an author whose library materials have been subjected to censorship to bring a court action against any government body that enforces censorship of library materials in violation of policies established under the bill. 'The freedom to read affirms our fundamental rights to access knowledge, stories, and ideas without the fear of censorship or discrimination,' Morales said. 'Unfortunately this freedom is under attack.' Newberry's amendment failed by a vote of 11 to 63. Representative Sherry Roberts, a West Greenwich Republican, said parents are opposed to books such as ' 'I'd like to just say that, on behalf of the parents, that the passage of this bill would be helping to promote perversion and shameful and degenerate behavior,' she said. Advertisement Representative Charlene M. Lima, a Cranston Democrat, said she had concerns about the bill. But she said Morales 'reassured me that these children would not be exposed to pornographic material. It would be age appropriate, and if there's something more questionable that the parents would have a way to refute the material and a process that they could go through.' Representative Karen Alzate, a Pawtucket Democrat, backed the bill, and said it 'promotes learning about the world and cultures.' 'Go into the library and pick out a book that's going to teach me about your culture and my culture,' she said. 'It's going to teach you about all the oceans in the world, the rivers, and the mountains in other countries, I have strong support because reading takes us to places that are beyond our minds.' Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at
USA Today
11-06-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Democrats embrace an establishment fighter: 3 takeaways from N.J. governor's race
Democrats embrace an establishment fighter: 3 takeaways from N.J. governor's race Show Caption Hide Caption New Jersey governor signs bill making book bans illegal Governor Phil Murphy signed the Freedom to Read Act which will prevent arbitrary book banning in the state. New Jersey voters can expect to have one of the more competitive gubernatorial races later this year now that they have set the table for the fall. Within an hour of polls closing on Tuesday, the primary contests were called for Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli in what will be one of two states, along with Virginia, hosting a high-stakes gubernatorial contest that could lay out the framework for the 2026 midterm elections. Both sides were already swinging before all the votes had been counted, with Democratic groups calling out Ciattarelli's about-face embrace of President Donald Trump, who may take a personal interest in flipping the Garden State. "Between now and November, we will make sure voters remember why they rejected (Ciatterelli's) last two statewide bids," Democratic Governor's Association spokesperson Izzi Levy said. Republicans are beaming with confidence given the gains Trump's populist fueled Make American Great Again movement has seen in the state as of late. "With New Jersey Republicans rallying around Jack Ciattarelli, we are well positioned to hold Democrats accountable for their poor record and work to deliver the real change that has been promised," Republican State Leadership Committee President Edith Jorge-Tuñón said in a statement. Here are the key points from Tuesday's election. It's Mikie: Congresswoman prevails in crowed Democratic field For most of the race Sherrill, a former Navy helicopter pilot, held the lead over her five fellow Democratic competitors but with so many undecided voters some had thought Tuesday evening would go a bit longer. "This was a truly grassroots campaign, and I'm so grateful to everyone who was a part of it, whether you volunteered, chipped in a few bucks, or voted for me," she said in a post on X as the polls closed. "We couldn't have gotten here without your support." Sherrill, the only woman running for governor in the Garden State, was viewed largely as the establishment candidate with heavy support from county parties and other Democratic-aligned groups who still carry weight with years of get out the vote experience and resources. She mostly stuck to her script, presenting herself to voters as a mom and military veteran. But she also focused attention on her record supporting women's reproductive rights and increasing affordable housing close to public transportation. The 53-year-old congresswoman, who was a member of the centrist "Blue Dog" coalition in Congress until 2023, never saw her lead falter in the polls, despite attacks ads that slammed her for accepting donations from a corporate PAC tied to SpaceX, which is owned by Elon Musk. MAGA convert wins as Trump eyes 'blue horror show' A decade ago Republican Jack Ciattarelli was among the outspoken conservatives who felt Trump was unfit to be president, calling him a "charlatan." When he came within 3 percentage points of winning the governorship in 2021, he kept Trump at arm's length. But that's behind both men now, and the president's late endorsement helped propel the former assemblyman across the finish line less than a half hour after polls closed with slightly more than two-thirds of primary voters supporting Ciattarelli as the GOP hopes to flip the state out of what the president described as a "blue horror show." Although New Jersey has been a solidly blue state at the presidential level for roughly 40 years, it turned more red last year after Trump lost the state by roughly 5%. He previously was defeated by about 16% in 2020. In terms of gubernatorial contests, the GOP has better luck in recent memory with Republican Chris Christie prevailing in the 2010 and 2014 elections. Coupled with how well Ciattarelli did four years ago and the Republican trend overall, New Jersey voters should expect a hotly contested − and expensive − general election this fall. What Sherrill's win tells us about Democrats ahead of 2026 Much of the Democratic gubernatorial primary in New Jersey served as laboratory for what type of candidate the party has an appetite for going forward in next year's midterms and beyond. Each of the six candidates brought extensive and diverse resumes, while they mostly agreed on many issues such as tackling cost of living woes. They all tried to stand out in various ways by emphasizing either their electability in the fall or standing against Trump. Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, a charismatic speaker with a long history of civic service and grassroots organizing, caught fire in the last weeks of the race, for instance, after being taken into custody by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents during a scuffle at a federal facility in Newark. Stances on hot button topics, such as the ICE raids, didn't seem to move the needle for the more progressive or antiestablishment candidates, including Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, however. Sherrill was criticized by more left-leaning elements in the party, such as the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, for being too bland. The group claimed she was "nowhere to be seen" during the congressional debates over Trump's legislative agenda. But Sherrill, who was carrying about one-third of the vote as of Tuesday evening, leaned into kitchen table issues around Social Security while also advertising herself as someone willing to "run toward the fight" who would "stand up to Trump and Musk." The finally tally, however, could also underscore a remaining divide among on how the party should move forward given that unlike Ciattarelli, who carried more than two-thirds of the GOP vote, a majority of New Jersey Democrats wanted someone besides Sherrill to carry the party's banner into the fall.
USA Today
02-06-2025
- Politics
- USA Today
Trump stumps for GOP's Jack Ciattarelli: What to know about New Jersey governor primaries
Trump stumps for GOP's Jack Ciattarelli: What to know about New Jersey governor primaries Show Caption Hide Caption New Jersey governor signs bill making book bans illegal Governor Phil Murphy signed the Freedom to Read Act which will prevent arbitrary book banning in the state. President Donald Trump put his full weight behind New Jersey's leading Republican candidate for governor, telling voters in a June 2 telephone rally saying he 'is the most experienced and battle-tested' to win despite the Garden State businessman's past criticisms of Trump. Trump, who noted he often stays in Bedminster, supported Jack Ciattarelli for his pledges to cap property taxes at 1% and to fight illegal immigration. Trump encouraged voters to head to the polls for the first day of early voting June 3, ahead of election day June 10. 'Jack has what it takes to win. He has my complete and total endorsement,' Trump said during a five-minute speech. 'It's being watched all over the world because New Jersey is ready to pop out of that blue horror show.' New Jersey is one of two states to host a high-stakes gubernatorial election this November that could go a long way to determining which party has the political momentum heading into the 2026 midterms. Trump's virtual appearance came on the eve of early voting in the state's primary elections and where the two-term president's own fortunes are very much reliant on sustained GOP wins at the ballot box. New Jersey is guaranteed to see a fresh face leading the state after this year: Democratic Gov. Philip Murphy is term limited. But while the East coast state typically tilts blue, the general outcome is far from settled. Both parties have crowded candidate fields heading into the primaries on June 10, though Republicans can claim to have a slightly clearer frontrunner in Ciattarelli. Spending this year in the Garden State has shattered previous primary election records. Between all 11 names on the ballot in 2025, candidates raised about $59 million and shelled out more than $43 million of that as of May 12, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. Trump backing his former critic Trump first announced his support for Ciattarelli, a former New Jersey general assembly member and now three-time candidate for governor, via Truth Social. 'Jack Ciattarelli is a terrific America First Candidate running to be the next Governor of a State that I love, NEW JERSEY!' Trump wrote in a post on May 12. 'Jack, who after getting to know and understand MAGA, has gone ALL IN, and is now 100%' Ciattarelli in 2015 labelled Trump a 'charlatan,' 'out of step with the Party of Lincoln' and 'not fit to be President of the United States.' And in 2021, running his second campaign for governor, the former state legislator kept Trump at arms-length. Past statements appear to be old news, though, with Trump spending time before the primary lauding Ciattarelli's candidacy. Ciattarelli was the leading candidate among Republicans before receiving the president's support. His main opponent, former radio host Bill Spadea, has painted himself as a Trump loyalist. In a new ad, Spadea said he was 'disappointed' by the president's endorsement decision. 'Jack Ciattarelli did more than disagree with the president — he disrespected him,' Spadea said in the direct-to-camera commercial. 'Me? I've been a supporter of President Trump since he came down the escalator. Other names on the GOP ballot are state Sen. Jon Bramnick, former Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mario Kranjac and Burlington County contractor Justin Barbera. Democrats to duke it out Among Democrats, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a congresswoman representing a district in north New Jersey, has the edge. A former Navy pilot, Sherill is currently serving her fourth term in the U.S. House and has built a reputation as a moderate. She's locked down her own major endorsements, including from tennis icon Billie Jean King and Democratic political action committee EMILY's List. She faces five other candidates in a far-from-decided primary contest. Another Democratic member of Congress, Rep. Josh Gottheimer, is right behind Sherrill in polling, along with Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller. Rounding out the field is former state Sen. President Steve Sweeney. Trump focuses on beating Democrats rather than GOP rivals Trump focused on contrasting Ciattarelli with Democrats rather than rival Republicans in the primary by saying he would fight to lower taxes and crack down on violent criminals. Trump said Ciattarelli, a former Somerset County commissioner and state assemblyman, would stand up to 'crippling regulations, rampant corruption' and 'radical teachers' unions.' 'I can't do any better than that, Jack,' Trump said. 'So get out there and win.' Ciattarelli thanked Trump for the endorsement and said his first executive order would be to eliminate so-called 'sanctuary cities' that limit cooperation with federal enforcement of immigration laws. 'We'll work together to keep our country safe and, of course, New Jersey safe,' Ciattarelli said. 'I'm honored and I will not let you down.' It's either party's game A poll by Emerson College and The Hill found Ciattarelli leading the Republican pack with 44% of voters' support, to Spadea's 18%. Sherrill was ahead among Democrats at 28%, with Fulop, Baraka and Gottheimer next at 11%. Regardless of who comes out on top June 10, the general race for governor is expected to be a competitive battle and possible bellwether for the country. New Jersey has a history of flipping between parties when picking their top state official. Former Gov. Chris Christie, a Republican, served two terms from 2010 to 2018. He was succeeded by current New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat. Murphy, now term-limited, faced Ciattarelli when running for reelection in 2021 and eked out a three-point win – much closer than his 15-point victory four years earlier. Former Vice President Kamala Harris won New Jersey in the 2024 presidential election. However, her six-point margin of victory was also a drop from Joe Biden's 16-point win in the Garden State in 2020 against then-President Trump.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Bill to protect RI libraries from book bans moves forward
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — Legislation aimed at protecting libraries from book bans and affirming free speech in Rhode Island is now headed to the House. The Senate advanced the Freedom to Read Act on Tuesday. If passed, the bill would promote access to information and freedom of expression by prohibiting censorship of library materials. BACKGROUND: RI leaders, advocates push for 'Freedom to Read' bill at State House State Sen. Mark McKenney introduced the legislation, which seeks to safeguard the rights to free speech, free inquiry, and opinion—protections outlined in both the U.S. and Rhode Island constitutions. In recent months, state leaders, residents, and advocates have weighed in on the issue. Some agree with McKenney, who believes materials should not be banned, removed or censored, emphasizing that 'reading is a gift.' Meanwhile, others have expressed strong opposition to the measure, arguing that children should be shielded from 'offensive material' and libraries should be stocked with 'age-appropriate' rather than 'age-relevant' items. MORE: RI lawmakers consider 'Freedom to Read Act' According to the Rhode Island Library Association, every New England state except Rhode Island currently has legal protections in place for librarians, teachers, and museum employees against civil or criminal charges related to their collections. If enacted, the bill would direct the commissioner of elementary and secondary education to create policies for library collection development, including criteria for selecting and maintaining materials and protections against censorship efforts. 'Public libraries are the repositories of free thought, and librarians are the guardians of those principles,' McKenney said. 'It should be the policy of every state to guarantee that libraries remain a place of free and open exchange of ideas without any partisan or doctrinal pressure.' The proposal also asserts that, 'Authors, creators, and publishers have a right to communicate their ideas to anyone who is interested in receiving them. Students and library patrons of all ages have a corresponding right to encounter them without government interference.' The Rhode Island Freedom to Read Act Coalition applauded the Senate's decision to pass the legislation. 'Rhode Islanders care deeply about the freedom to choose the books they and their familiesread,' said Cheryl Space, co-chair of the Rhode Island Library Association Legislative ActionCommittee. This is the third year the Freedom to Read Act has passed in the Senate, according to the coalition. 'There is broad support for this bipartisan bill both within the House of Representatives andaround the state,' said Padma Venkatraman, co-chair of Rhode Island Authors Against BookBans. 'We are eager to see it voted into law.' Download the and apps to get breaking news and weather alerts. Watch or with the new . Follow us on social media: Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Los Angeles Times
18-04-2025
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Commentary: Before they open a book: the politicization of Orange County's public libraries
The Huntington Beach Public Library is a community paragon and is expected to unveil its 50th anniversary plaque this month — a plaque that has sparked controversy with its politicized messaging. Emblazoned with the MAGA acronym and slogans from previous presidents, the plaque is one of many ways politics have infiltrated Orange County libraries, especially the children's sections. Politicization through book bans, extremely partisan city councils and physical signage has skewed our youngest readers' perception of literature. To combat literary politicization, the state of California recently chartered the Freedom to Read Act, restricting book banning in state-funded facilities. Will this be enough to protect Orange County children's right to read? Every new parent is urged to create avid readers for a reason. Reading is key to a child's development. It is known to improve children's critical thinking and concentration, develop their senses of empathy and creativity, and introduce them to different cultures and experiences. Orange County public libraries support families' reading goals with their children's sections and events such as story time, reading challenges and family book clubs. Yet our public libraries have faced roadblocks to free access in recent years. According to the American Library Assn., book bans have been on the rise in the last few years, and nowhere is this clearer than in Huntington Beach. Although free access to literature is considered a protected 1st Amendment right under free speech, Huntington Beach officials have been among those who believe children's sections should be monitored. Just last year The Huntington Beach City Council ordered its central library to move books with 'sexual content' out of the children's section. The 'sexual content' in question? Books on potty training, puberty, and anatomy — subjects integral for children's development. The state of California seeks to reduce such instances of book banning. The Freedom to Read Act, AB 1825, dictates that by Jan. 1, 2026, all state-funded libraries must write and publish a collection development policy. Collection policies cannot allow the removal, relocation, or restriction of books based on political, LGBTQ+, or racial content, topics that frequently justify book bans. This act would especially affect children's sections, cementing diverse stories on children's shelves. Supporters view this act with optimism toward a bipartisan state library system, especially for littles; in contrast, some municipalities, including Huntington Beach, expressed contempt for AB 1825 and seek to fight against it. Book bans are not the only conduits of library politicization; city councils and infrastructure are politicized as well. While AB 1825 aims to reduce politicization of public libraries, it only focuses on library content. Despite librarians, volunteers and patrons alike voicing concerns about the presidential slogans on the Huntington Beach Public Library's 50th anniversary plaque, the City Council unanimously approved the design. When the plaque is unveiled, families will encounter politicized messages from both the left and the right before even cracking open a book. Despite its best efforts, AB 1825 will not eliminate politicization by a long shot. Orange County citizens are responsible for protecting the integrity of our libraries, especially for our children. Community members can directly support public libraries by simply going to their local library and taking out a library card. This increases the library's door count and card count and can dictate its allocated resources. Advocate for children's free, bipartisan access to literature in public libraries by voicing concerns at city council meetings and reaching out to representatives. Relatives of school-age children can attend school board meetings and defend librarians and teachers. Parents should discuss what content their children should and should not be reading at their age while encouraging curiosity on diverse stories. Orange County public libraries have encouraged both proper development through reading and love for books in thousands of children; it is up to its citizens to protect the libraries from politicization so thousands more can experience the benefits of free access to literature. Meredith Starkenburg is a lifelong Orange County resident who studies education and English at the College of William and Mary.
