Latest news with #TheDiaryofAnneFrank
Yahoo
27-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Big Country Politics: Abilene bookstore owner discuses concerns of House Bill 1375
BIG COUNTRY, Texas () – In this week's episode of Big Country Politics, Arlene Kasselman, owner of the bookstore Seven and One Books, discussed House Bill 1375 and her concerns. House Bill 1375 is legislation in Texas aimed at regulating businesses that distribute obscene content. Censorship concerns rise over Texas bill; Abilene bookstore pushes back 'The thing that caught my attention was the wording on the bill because it actually says, 'anything that is deemed harmful.' But there's not an excavation as in harmful or in bullet points on what this could be. And so when you try to parse out what that means as a bookseller, I'm going, 'Oh, so now it's up for definition,' because it's not just, I think you use the phrase obscene, but I think the language is: is this harmful to a minor?' Kasselman said. Kasselman mentioned that it's scary that this bill allows people to sue businesses based on what they're selling. She noted that book stores are striving, but their profit margins are small. 'If an independent bookstore like mine gets sued, I can't afford the legal fees. I can't afford the potential payouts, and what we noticed is that, in a few cases with certain bookstores that have come under scrutiny, they've tried to settle out of court. We can't afford that either. A bill like this potentially has the effect that small bookstores will close their doors because they can't afford the lawsuits. And the other option is to try to avoid the lawsuits; we either have to close our doors to minors entering the bookstores, or we would have to card people as they are buying things,' Kasselman said. Kasselman expressed her concerns about what qualifies as harmful content, particularly in relation to 'obscene content.' She noted that if a teenager visits a bookstore and their parents discover this, it could potentially lead to a lawsuit. Kasselman also highlighted several important books, including The Diary of Anne Frank, writings by Toni Morrison and Octavia Butler, George Orwell's 1984, and Fahrenheit 451. 'And if a parent deems that it is harmful, we're not talking pornography, I'm a mother, in fact, I'm a Christian mother. And I'm not out there to put things in the hands of children that are developmentally inappropriate or that would be harming them. But, it's this idea that we're going to censure what a book is allowed to carry,' Kasselman shared. Kasselman sees this issue as a form of censorship and explains how she lived through censorship of books and TV when she lived in South Africa. 'I think if we can depoliticize some of these conversations and make them human again, we are probably more similar than we are different. I think the desire is to protect children, and from a bookseller, we're saying, 'Yes, let's make sure children have access to books and bookstores have similar experiences we had as children,' and we would never have something in the store that is directly harmful to children. We are opening a world to children where they can explore, and families can pick… We're not forcing anybody to buy anything, but as a private business, we have multiple options and can invite people in so they can find their own representation in the bookstore, but we're not forcing anybody to buy something against their will,' Kasselman said. Seven and One Bookstore provides a diverse selection of books, including bestsellers, essential historical reads, and current titles that reflect shoppers' trending interests. Kasselman describes the content of each book to ensure that customers feel confident in their choices. While she prefers not to inquire about what someone is purchasing, she is always open to discussing the content of the books. 'We are not screening books; going 'oh, that book has got, this book is written for adult romance that adults will purchase.' I'm not going to say 'you shouldn't buy that book.' I'm going to let you pick that because I feel like that's your right as an American to have that kind of choice. But the way we have the store laid out, I don't have young adult books with my adult romance books; they're put in a separate part of the store,' Kasselman said. Kasselman believes that the vagueness of HB 1375 is problematic and could result in frivolous legal actions. 'What if I have somebody come in who picks a book in my faith section and takes that home? And they have a parent who is not of a faith perspective who feels like everything to do with faith is culty or harmful because they have church hurt? And they may want to sue over that… And then I have another child or young adult who picks up a clean, closed door, which is the term we use when there's nothing sexually explicit in it, a romance book, and takes it home, and that parent doesn't like it, and then they sue? It could be coming from both sides. So what we're saying is, let's have these conversations in bills that specify certain very specific things if you have to have a regulation, or let's have people able to come and make their own decisions in a private business,' said Kasselman. Texas HB 1375 is left pending, and will continue to follow this story as it develops. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Miami Herald
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Florida bill to ban books from schools over ‘sexual content' threatens literary classics
Classic books like '1984' by George Orwell, 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' by Maya Angelou and 'The Diary of Anne Frank' offer profound insights into history, humanity and the complexities of our shared world. These are not fringe books. And yet, under the proposed House Bill 1539, now advancing in the Florida legislature, these titles could be removed from public school libraries and classrooms after little more than a formal complaint by a single person because they include sexual content. HB 1539 proposes a sweeping and rigid overhaul of how books are evaluated in Florida's public schools, defining those that may be challenged for being 'harmful to minors.' According to the bill's wording, that means any book containing 'depiction of nudity, sexual conduct or sexual excitement... patently offensive to prevailing standards in the adult community as a whole.' HB 1539 proposes a sweeping and rigid overhaul of how books are evaluated in Florida's public schools. If a book in a school is challenged as 'harmful to minors,' districts would be required to permanently remove the book, regardless of its educational value, cultural relevance or historical significance. The bill expressly forbids any consideration of a work's literary and artistic merit as a whole. Even foundational books, like the ones above, could be removed from public schools based on isolated scenes or language. One frivolous complaint will be all it takes to ban books, ignoring their context and complexity. Lawmakers should think carefully before making it even easier for censorship to spread. Policies like this have long been exploited by a loud few and those eager to turn personal morality into public restriction. These measures are used to ban books from classrooms and libraries, often without a transparent review or meaningful public input. The bill effectively guts the third prong of the 'Miller test,' the standard established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Miller v. California (1973), which protects works, taken as a whole, with serious literary or artistic value, from being labeled 'obscene.' That safeguard has protected important books from being labeled obscene for decades. By narrowing what is considered acceptable in Florida, this bill invites confusion, weakens First Amendment protections and opens the door to costly legal battles over free expression, which will fall squarely on Florida taxpayers. Let's be clear: HB 1539 threatens to sever the thread between students and textually rich literature. It reduces sophisticated narratives to flattened singular passages, ignoring the breadth and power a story can offer when taken as a whole. By rejecting the holistic evaluation of books, this bill undermines a key foundation of both literary expression and public education. This bill sidelines inquiry in favor of control. It does not protect knowledge; it restricts it. It does not enliven thought; it narrows it. PEN America has urged Florida lawmakers to reject HB 1539, warning that it endangers students' First Amendment rights and undermines the foundation of our public education system and academic freedom. The bill's new definition of 'harmful to minors' diverges sharply from constitutional standards. If passed, HB 1539 would likely result in the removal of widely taught and historically significant works from public school libraries and classrooms. It would deny public school students the chance to engage meaningfully with literature, to grapple with big ideas and gain a deeper appreciation for language and artistic expression. Our literary canon captures pivotal moments in our shared story and presents a layered portrait of life. When students are exposed to a wide range of reading materials, they don't just access information; they build cultural understanding and sharpen their imagination. Protecting access to nuanced works isn't just about saving books; it's about cultivating intellectual and emotional growth for as many as possible. William Johnson is the director of PEN America's Florida office.
CBS News
13-03-2025
- Business
- CBS News
City of Howell hires PR firm to revamp image after incidents involving racism
A public relations firm out of Holland, Michigan, has a big task ahead of them to rehabilitate the city of Howell's image after multiple instances of racist behavior make headlines. In December 2024, the city announced it was working on hiring a PR firm to rehab its image. The move came after a couple of racist incidents relatively close together, including reports of a Nazi demonstration outside a performance of the play "The Diary of Anne Frank." "I hope that they give us some meaningful communication plans to help us tell our story," said City Manager Erv Suida. During the hunt for a PR firm to help, the city experienced another racist incident with another reported Nazi demonstration, this time outside of the Historic Howell Theater. "One of the things we all have to realize is that there seems to be a rise in racism and antisemitic rallies," Suida said. "We don't want to focus around those groups. We've had the White Lives Matter group that has been here and around other communities in Michigan. We want to make sure that we're responding appropriately, but we don't really want to give them that much attention." The city hired Burch Partners to undertake the project. The city shelled out about $20,000 for three months of work, and then any additional help they get, like crisis communication, will be billed at an hourly rate. Suida tells CBS News Detroit that the firm will work behind the scenes to better prepare city officials to respond to situations and better tell the city's story. "One of the things about a good communication plan is how do we communicate with residents and our businesses so they'll definitely see a change in that we want to be more proactive, more outreaching and more transparent," said Suida. "We have a great story we plan on telling that story over the next couple of years, and I think if they can help us do that, then it's money well spent."
Yahoo
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Nazi protestors demonstrate against anti-racism film in Howell
HOWELL, Mich. (WLNS) — A group of men holding swastika flags and yelling slurs were spotted in Howell Thursday night during the screening of an anti-racism documentary called 'Faces of Hate.' This incident comes a few months after a similar group of men were seen back in November waving Nazi flags and protesting against a showing of 'The Diary of Anne Frank' play at the American Legion. Jeffrey Amayo, a construction worker, says he was invited to the screening of the film and approached one of the men holding the flags. 'He barged into the theater, they pushed him out, and I decided to get in his face, and just tell that he's a joke,' said Amayo. 'You know, let him know that a Black man is telling you you're a joke, and I made him afraid.' Amayo says this incident hits close to home. 'I grew up in West Bloomfield, Farmington Hills,' said Amayo. 'I was a victim of racial harassment and racial violence, and I decided to put my foot down. No more. No more.' The film, 'Faces of Hate,' tells the story of an ex-white supremacist who changes his racist ideology. Tyler Deperro, the owner of Historic Howell Theater, says a man came inside earlier that day upset about the film. 'And then later on as the movie was ending,' said Deperro. 'That group came back around 8 o'clock across the street with their Nazi flags and yelling slurs.' Julie Ohashi, co-founder of Stand Against Extremism (SAGE) Livingston County, the group that sponsored the documentary says, the film was what caused the extremist to show up. 'We did receive verbal abuse. Threats of direct physical violence,' said Ohashi. 'They're saying things like, you know 'race mixers are the death of the white race,' and 'stop killing white children,' 'end white genocide.'' Ohashi says SAGE combated against the protestors the best way they could. 'The response was to drown them out in any way we could, just play really loud music,' said Ohashi. 'Yell over top of them, but we didn't want them to have the platform.' Although the event ended on a sour note, Ohashi says the screening was a success, with 100 people viewing the documentary. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Yahoo
White supremacists return to Howell, clash with armed counter-protestors
HOWELL — White supremacists returned to Howell on Thursday, Feb. 6; and this time, they were met with armed counterprotestors. The groups, both clad in black and masked, confronted one another after a screening of "Face of Hate" at the Historic Howell Theater. There was screaming, shouting, pushing. The person who'd been pushed by the supremacists told The Daily he planned to press charges. One man attempting to enter the screening under an offensive name did a Nazi salute when he wasn't allowed entry. Livingston County Commissioner Wes Nakagiri also attempted to enter, but was denied when he admitted he hadn't pre-registered. The incident comes only three months after supremacists demonstrated outside a local production of "The Diary of Anne Frank," which made national news and prompted the City of Howell to hire a public relations firm. The documentary shown Thursday, available on Amazon Prime Video, focuses on area native Jasen Barker, once an outspoken supremacist himself. More: 'Face of Hate' centers on former white supremacist of Howell Barker was convicted of aggravated assault and ethnic intimidation for his role in the assault of Arthur Williams III, an officer with the Michigan State Police, in 2001. He was later sentenced for making a threat of domestic terrorism, after which he spent years in lock-up. "Face of Hate" follows Barker over the course of a decade, including the time behind bars that forced him to confront his own beliefs. Director Steffen Hou and Barker were both present during the showing and sat for a Q&A. The audience filled the single-screen theater. Before the show began, 10-12 people wearing masks, bulletproof vests and black clothing — some of them armed — arrived. But, in a plot twist, they weren't white supremacists. More: 'We were hiding with Nazis outside': White supremacists protest play in Howell They were members of the public, according to conversations with The Daily, associated with SAGE (Stand Against Extremism LivCo), the organization responsible for the showing. At least one was from Livingston County, another from Ottawa County. They said they've worked with SAGE in the past, and during Pride events. At first, it seemed the added security team would be the only masked party on the sidewalk outside the theater — but by the time the showing ended, a handful of white supremacists were in place, with at least one Nazi flag flying. The groups, and the attendees streaming out of the theater, clashed. During a meeting with now-Senator Elissa Slotkin, D-Holly, in December, officials from Howell shared the extent of the backlash the city received after the display at "Anne Frank." More: 'Staff members cried': Howell officials share backlash against city after Nazi display 'Every state in this great nation was calling us, calling us horrible things," said Howell City Manager Erv Suida. "Staff (members) cried. They couldn't take it anymore. That's how bad it was." Kate Litwin, chief operating officer of Howell Main Street, said she was called the "face of evil" in downtown Howell. The supremacist presence at "Anne Frank" wasn't the first in 2024, following a march from the Livingston County Historic Courthouse toward the Carnegie Library in July. The same day, a second demonstration took place on the overpass at I-96 and Latson Road. In a video, the demonstrators could be heard chanting "We love Hitler. We love Trump." In August, a similar display took place in Brighton. Several local businesses publicly condemned the message, and one local boutique, Forest and Follies, closed in response. Howell's fraught history with acceptance predates 2024 by several decades. It began with Robert Miles, once a Grand Dragon of the Michigan Ku Klux Klan, who settled on a 70-acre farm in Cohoctah Township in the 1960s. According to the Lansing State Journal, Miles was attention-seeking and had a violent reputation. He was among five people convicted in 1971 of planning the bombing of school buses slated for court-ordered desegregation in Pontiac. A few years later, he was convicted on a conspiracy charge related to the tarring and feathering of Dr. R. Wiley Brownlee, a high school principal in Ypsilanti who supported desegregation. Miles died in 1992 at age 67 — but after years of rallies and demonstrations at his farm, the damage was done. And now, every few years, another incident will put Howell back on the map; and not in a good way. More: This isn't who we are — right? 10 years later, I'm still writing about racism in Howell SAGE has long encouraged local officials to admit there's a problem, then address it. More than 100 people gathered Saturday, Nov. 23, outside Howell City Hall to voice their disdain for the supremacists — but Mayor Bob Ellis and others have been insistent that demonstrators come to Howell from outside the county, in part to take advantage of its history. Barker is from Howell. Discrimination lawsuits in local school districts filed over the past several years stem from student experiences. And at least one supremacist in attendance Thursday, the one who attempted to gain entry — identified as Eric Cooper — is from Livingston County. This is a breaking news story and will continue to be updated. — Contact Tess Ware and Adam Vander Kooy at newsroom@ This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: White supremacists clash with counter-protestors at Howell Theater
