WHAT ARE BOOK BANS???
A book ban is when an individual, group, or government official removes a book from a library because they object to the book's content. Book bans have been around for hundreds of years but have seen a sharp increase in the past few years.
Book bans are a form of censorship.
What is censorship?
From the ALA: "Censorship is the suppression of ideas and information that some individuals, groups, or government officials find objectionable or dangerous. Would-be censors try to use the power of the state to impose their view of what is truthful and appropriate, or offensive and objectionable, on everyone else. Censors pressure public institutions, like libraries, to suppress and remove information they judge inappropriate or dangerous from public access, so that no one else has the chance to read or view the material and make up their own minds about it."
Censorship goes against the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791. The First Amendment protest citizen's right to speak, publish, and read what they want.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BANNED BOOKS
BANNED BOOKS @ WAKE TECH LIBRARIES