On Banned Books Week, Congressman Dan Goldman (NY-10) joined Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) in introducing a resolution expressing concern about recent attacks on the First Amendment as extremists around the country engage on a nationwide crusade to ban books from public school libraries. According to the American Library Association’s Office of Intellectual Freedom, in 2022, over 2,500 books were banned or challenged in the United States.
“In a democracy we do not run from ideas, we embrace them – even the ones that might make us uncomfortable,” Congressman Dan Goldman said. “Education from a wide variety of sources and perspectives is vital to fostering both curiosity and a better understanding of our world and our history. The banning of books is often a first step in the rise of authoritarianism – and as New Yorkers and as Americans, we must condemn book banning and the extremists who would try to impose their limited worldviews on our children.”
The resolution:
- Expresses concern about the spreading problem of book banning and the proliferating threats to freedom of expression in the United States;
- Reaffirms the commitment of the United States to supporting the freedom of expression of writers that is protected under the First Amendment and the freedom of all individuals in the United States to read books without government censorship;
- Calls on local governments and school districts to follow best practice guidelines when addressing challenges to books; and
- Calls on local governments and school districts to protect the rights of students to learn and the ability of educators and librarians to teach, including by providing students with the opportunity to read a wide array of books reflecting the full breadth and diversity of viewpoints and perspectives.
Of the over 2,500 bans in the 2021–2022 school year, 96 percent were enacted without following the best practice guidelines for book challenges outlined by the American Library Association, the National Coalition Against Censorship, and the National Council of Teachers of English.
