This Librarian Spoke Out Against Book Banning. Now She Fears for Her Life | Amanpour and Company

In honor of “Banned Books Week,” Hari interviews Amanda Jones, author of "That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America." Jones details the online and in-person abuse she experienced after speaking out against book bans.
Originally aired on September 27, 2024
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Amanpour and Company features wide-ranging, in-depth conversations with global thought leaders and cultural influencers on the issues and trends impacting the world each day, from politics, business and technology to arts, science and sports. Christiane Amanpour leads the conversation on global and domestic news from London with contributions by prominent journalists Walter Isaacson, Michel Martin, Alicia Menendez and Hari Sreenivasan from the Tisch WNET Studios at Lincoln Center in New York City.
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[@tommcfadden5232]

Amanda Jones, thank you for having the courage of your convictions. I find it’s a rarity in a world of cowardly lions.

[@buzoff4642]

It takes time, to recognize the big picture. In this case, end goal, Koch/ALEC, to put their radicals in office. "Libertarian" censorship.

[@davidhovde9996]

My father was a librarian and stopped a book burning in the 1950s. Keep up the good work for our country's future!

[@glenjohnson5323]

Book burning is literally a page out of Hitler's playbook. There seems to be a number of closet Nazis in the GOP these days.

[@TheTerminator-2]

@@glenjohnson5323 Thumbs up. But also, they aren't in the closet anymore. Trump let them out.

[@HelenCamile63]

@@davidhovde9996 If your dad is still around please tell him a stranger on YT thanks him for his service. Librarians are warriors for free speech. 💙

[@nsbd90now]

Woah! He must be a very brave person to stand up to something like that back then!

[@AmateurHistorian999]

@@davidhovde9996 Awesome!

[@CarlosIowa]

They want you to quit. They'd rather have the Evangelical Christian Lunch Lady promoted to Librarian. VOTE MAGA OUT!

[@paulheydarian1281]

They'll even go so far as to restrict her diet.

[@neekerbreeker]

Every time I move to a new city or state for my job, one of the first things I do is get a library card. Libraries have been an integral part of my life. The harassment of Ms. Jones made me sick on it own, but when judges feel empowered to show such blatant bias, things are in a very bad place. We need libraries and librarians more than ever to offset all the misinformation and willful ignorance. Kudos to Ms. Jones for fighting back!

[@rowanfair]

I’m a retired librarian. I did a talk in 1993 on the rise of religiously motivated censorship in schools and libraries. It is so disheartening 30 years later to see how far the extremists have gone. Kudos to Amanda and the other folks still working for integrity and intellectual freedom.

[@ailleananaithnid2566]

Thank you for your work. I have been worried about the power of these groups since the 1980’s. When Hillary said there was a vast right wing conspiracy, the public should have listened. We are the frog in the proverbial boiling pot. I fear the democracy is beyond the tipping point. SCOTUS is 100% corrupt. Two great books by Kathrine Stewart: the Power Worshippers and the Good News Club.

[@Alltime2050]

Conservatism is ancient. It used to be normal human behavior in the civilized world when the population on the planet was counted by the millions, not the billions who are alive today. Now, it's evolving into aberrant and antisocial behavior. They are the remnants of an ancient reality. They are the people who have been unable or unwilling to adapt to the conditions of a modern world filled with billions of people. They believe they are the glue holding civilization together while, at the same time, fully aware that the future doesn't want them. Many think they are living in the long-awaited end-time, others are just terrified by thinking they'll be enslaved and/or forced to give up their God. They are not rational people and must be approached accordingly.

[@wendwllhickey6426]

Maybe you should have said something

[@rowanfair]

@@wendwllhickey6426 Are you suggesting I didn’t? The American Library Association has an Intellectual Freedom Round Table, sponsors Banned Books Week, and does a lot to support the profession. My 1993 talk I mentioned was given at the Parliament of the World’s Religions, where I hoped to sound an alarm. I’m in my 70s and still pay attention and speak up.

[@Kymberlee_W]

@@rowanfair thank you for speaking up! I commented previously about my experiences with libraries - I loved them so much! Still do but I make do with my ereader as I don't like having to use a magnifying sheet if I don't have to. In my comment, I've literally only found 1 somewhat racy book when I was a teen (in a public, not school, library) - Wifey by Judy Blume. I also commented that around the age 14 me and my friends thought the anatomy manual we used for AP Biology made for scintillating conversation & conjecture. By the end of the course, we had matured a bit and we also completely understood human reproductive organs and how they worked. Shocker! 14-16 yr olds learning about the human body is such a radical concept said no science teacher ever. This from idjits who think it's all fine for a 13 yr old SA victim to go ahead, endanger her life just to satisfy some weirdo's forced birth fantasies. For anyone reading this who doesn't remember or didn't take advanced bio/chem or A & P (Anatomy & Physiology not Advanced Placement). These aren't sex "how to" manuals, they're pre-university textbooks just like English or Math textbooks are precursors to Literature and Calculus or Physics and the only real difference between them and university texts is the difficulty and depth of the information. Obviously this subject is far more nuanced than a single comment at nearly midnight can convey. *Note: please let me know if something here doesn't make sense. I did my best but I'm still healing from a stroke so sometimes grammar and sentence structure suffer.

[@jjetsam3]

My daughter just started a new job as a school librarian in August. It never occurred to me to be frightened for her. WTF is wrong with this country? (Looking at you MAGA.)

[@JessicaBuchanan-g8y]

They stand in the bully pulpit.

[@vv5179]

The people that “vote blue no matter who” are just as evil. Censorship isn’t one sided.

[@presence5426]

We have a whole lot of work to do. And we can't rely on the Democratic Party to do it.

[@JessicaBuchanan-g8y]

@@presence5426 the Democratic Party is already doing it. If you can’t be helpful, step aside.

[@sprsmoke]

Is your daughter going to groom children?

[@MayThereBeWorldPeace]

This poor woman. Such hate. It's horrible.

[@paulheydarian1281]

They say hardship helps build character.🤪

[@lindas.martin2806]

Very courageous woman. Thanks for showcasing the issue, Ben Franklin is turning in his grave. The type of defamation the extremist group is doing…why is it not illegal since it is based on lies about the librarian?

[@lizc4234]

Amanda, sorry you've had to deal with this. Thanks for your courage and determination!

[@curiousworld7912]

God almighty. What have we become, when librarians are getting death threats?

[@cabrown308]

We have always had people like this in our country. If they would let us teach real history, people would be aware of it and wouldn’t tolerate it, but whitewash everything with the emphasis on white😢🤬

[@joygimbel7760]

This comment made my blood run cold. ❤️‍🩹🗽

[@Ketowski]

Knowledge is threatening to those who seek control over every aspect of our lives.

[@malaikasmith3949]

This is the same stuff from the 50/60s - remember the citizen councils? Same folks and energy. This is not something you all have become, this is something you all have always been. As a Black American, PLEASE don't include us all in your "WE".

[@Ketowski]

@@malaikasmith3949 It’s not the same stuff. It’s a forced return.Maybe you’re not interested in being a part of the country. That’s the We.

[@christineleitner960]

I pray you win your lawsuit Amanda. I also pray that one day these hate groups are sued to the extent they no longer have power. Similar to the KKK, because that is what they are at the core. Thank you for having the courage to fight back. You are 100% correct regarding the targeting of libraries the same as education. These hate groups believe they can gain control of our country if education and imagination are taken away. The American people are waking up and saying enough is enough. We are bringing back joy to this country and you are part of that joy. Bless you!

[@jamesschneider2091]

The core cause of this hate campaign is the reason the authors of the Constitution penned the Establishment Clause. State governments like LA & TX have been hijacked by Christian nationalist extremists ... we saw a malignant symptom of the disease on J6 at our Capitol!

[@primordialmeow7249]

She is a hero. So sad she is going through hell.

[@robertburdick2998]

Book banning is the first step toward hate and ignorance. When people who claim the moral high ground threaten and carry out violence they invalidate their message. Keep yourself safe, and Thank You for taking a stand for the Real America.

[@pfflyer3381]

The first step was reaganomics! Reagans welfare queens as a campaign! Blame, hate, while gerrymaned into poverty! TAX give aways, corporate welfare, ( the real queens, elitest, and red states!

[@drusillawinters212]

Librarians are heros. Thank you.

[@towanda1067]

I was a college teacher for 30 years, retiring in 2018. For nearly the last 10 years, I saw anti-teacher sentiment grow. I said to my Mom, “When did I become the enemy?” The criticism against teachers was much like the current ones against librarians, unfounded, illogical and beyond reason. When a country starts to target librarians and teachers, you know it is going over to the dark side.

[@d.m.3133]

It disgusts me! They call teachers groomers! 😡. I just heard JD Vance say he wants to close all universities and give the endowments and land to billionaires. 😠. Educated people are a problem to them.

[@71suns]

Because most teachers are still women. Demonizing women is the misogynist underpinnings of all this despicable crap.

[@shennashepard6750]

They should just open their private Christian schools and stay out of our public education system!! How dare they impose their religious beliefs on the rest of us who want our children to be scientifically informed, tolerant, and critical thinkers!!

[@jryland6]

@@vivienneb6199 you have the right to not allow your child to read those books; however, everyone else deserves the right to be able to read what they want. So you make a list of the books your child cannot read and send it with them to the library, but don’t stop us from reading what we want to read. I’m not throwing away Mark Twain,Tropic of Cancer etc etc etc.

[@arianollie5496]

@@vivienneb6199what does that have to do with this librarian, hateful troll!

[@roseannlord2062]

What an intelligent, articulate woman! Thank you Amanda Jones!

[@janicepalesch9221]

I feel so sorry for this woman. She looked like she was about to cry during the interview and when she was listening to the vicious threats leveled against her. If I were her, I would leave the ugliness that lives in that little town. NOTHING is worth this. Nevertheless, she is a woman of courage, who is a great leader. I hope that she wins her lawsuit, but a win will never make up for the cruelty inflicted upon her. Stay strong. Many of us deeply admire you.

[@lkeke35]

The children are worth it though. I'm a librarian and every child we can help is worth it! Especially if they have parents like those...

[@buzoff4642]

"If I were her, I would leave" the problem, for others. I live next to a mental case, and someone advised the same, move away from this person. I get the choice, to not take on problematic personalities. It's highly disruptive to one's life, takes energy and persistence. I also understand, the aggressive only grow worse. Until, before you know it, the aggressive's amassed a fan base, enough to run for office...

[@buzoff4642]

@@lkeke35 It's not just about the children. It's about letting a fellow citizen, or a handful, censor _all_ the patrons.

[@monalong8900]

Kids are in danger of being gunned down . Very few have died from a library book.

[@glenjohnson5323]

They care far less about kids being gunned down then they do about stopping them from reading whatever books they may find offensive

[@monalong8900]

@@glenjohnson5323 Read book make head hurt.

[@danielmorales1470]

@@monalong8900 😸

[@savage.4.24]

It seems as though if everyone was reading there would be less trouble in schools. In my day when we finished with our work we were allowed and encouraged to read or go to the library. By 2008 when I graduated we started needing an appointment to go to the school library! I was 17 and 18 years old and couldn't go pick out a book in the school library but I could certainly go to the county library. I could even walk there and back alone after school. This world is wild.

[@monalong8900]

@@savage.4.24 The Library was always my fortress of solitude. Authors like Nevil Shute and Heinlen transported to another land. Now they consider the Library a bigger danger than the nearby 7-11 where you can buy Ammo out of the vending machine.

[@jenniferjaurigue9660]

I am so sick of the ingnorance in this country.

[@pfflyer3381]

Reaganomics and the Christian church! Keep real biology dead, it keeps people ignorant, like believing in god!

[@schan9547]

Expect it to grow.

[@nedludd7622]

It was designed by the Reagan administration and continued by the Republican Party to give us morons GWB and Trump.

[@questcore636]

same, be different if being a dumbass affected only themselves, but they affect everyone around them

[@RevLetaLee]

Brave and very strong woman. Grateful for her stand and so disgusted by the people who are acting very childish and ignorantly.

[@marysmith2215]

Warning to extremist hate/persecution groups: What you put into the universe is what you get back from it.

[@MylesDavid]

The defamation against her should be handled as federal hate crimes, and those criminals should be put in jail immediately!

[@71suns]

I agree. SEVERE SWIFT CONSEQUENCES

[@JessicaBuchanan-g8y]

Thank you for fighting against the dumbing down of America.

[@LuEmanuel]

Amanda Jones, you are so brave, impressive, well spoken, accomplished and - even if it seems otherwise - you are accomplishing just by speaking out and having written your book. Good job! Well done! You deserve to be honoured for what you have done and for being who you are in the world. I love libraries. Thank you so much for working as you do to protect and preserve them!

[@buzoff4642]

"I love libraries." I've said many a time, my library card's the most valuable thing I own.

[@VanGopherVincent]

Ray Bradbury was clairvoyant.... Power to the librarians!

[@HelenCamile63]

He, like Margaret Atwood and George Orwell (among others) saw that these things that really existed in the world, they simply fictionalized the stories. 😢🔵

[@barbiek3987]

Oh, where was the latest book burning?

[@doricetimko5403]

Thank God for courageous people like Amanda. Vote to keep your rights!

[@robinriebsomer4607]

Thank you Amanda, for standing up for First Amendment rights. What these people do not understand is that kids will find out where they can get the books they want to ban on the internet, or the forbidden information. It's disgusting that they would threaten you with physical violence and defamation.

[@CynNola]

Thank you Amanda for helping fight these lunatics!

[@SuperBookdragon]

I went to see you when you came to KC. Thank you for speaking out. It is so important. These hate groups fueling and paying people to attend meetings to try to ban books especially books that help marginalized folks must be stopped.

[@fellfromspace]

This poor woman. Thank you for your integrity and for continuing to speak out. And shame on the cowards and fanatics that are treating you like this.

[@tommcfadden5232]

The Supreme Court has ruled that campaign contributions are free speech and that limiting contributions is a violation of the first amendment. In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling, banning books in public schools seems to also violate freedom of speech and the first amendment right of the banned books authors. Surely some savvy lawyer could file suit along these lines.

[@tammyjantzen9004]

Vote Blue 💙, up & down ballot, and we can fix that too! Take the House & Senate! 💙🌊💙🌊💙🌊 !

[@kp6215]

​@@tammyjantzen9004Blue is the ones that now censoring my speech.

[@vestcoat]

Some savvy lawyer like KAMALA HARRIS being in charge of things! This type of censorship and harassment is preposterous! Well said; your comment!

[@Victoria-i5k1d]

The Supreme Court is supposed to uphold the law and our rights instead most of them have been going rogue. The day Trump stepped into our lives was like out of control disease on Americans that just can’t heal!

[@CatCaretakerID]

This crap where organizations and businesses can be seen as individuals and have the same rights is complete nonsense.

[@TheLolapuff]

What a brave woman and fine American.

[@newsoul8626]

thank you, thank you, thank you for protecting our libraries and book banning, the job shouldn't require what you have experienced! we are on your side!!!

[@Nickelini]

How awful for her. Librarians are the heroes in our world and must be supported and protected. Wack jobs need to be exposed for their lies and unacceptable behaviour. And stopped. Their lies and violence only ever worsen

[@Jedizen07]

Amanda Jones is doing a wonderful job in protecting us against censorship. The hell she is going through is terrible but she is doing amazing work to protect the freedom to read. Hate/corruption ( of those who celebrate freedoms ) only leads to extinction.

[@towanda1067]

Why aren’t the people threatening her being prosecuted legally?

[@AlloftheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Louisiana. Sounds like the judge is on the side of the violence so I imagine others in power are too.

[@danielmorales1470]

@@AlloftheGoodNamesAreTaken Clay Higgins and Mike Johnson just to name a few!

[@magicgirl-48]

Why is no action being taken because it’s Louisiana and they’re all a bunch of right wing Christian nationalist. It’s a totally red state filled with ignorant political leaders. God bless this woman for having the courage to stand up against this.

[@soniaprovard8259]

Amanda, I am so very sorry for the absolute terror & torture that you have been made to endure!! You are a wonderful librarian & mentor for your community!! Keep fighting & never be quiet!!

[@DLYChicago]

Big hug for the local librarian. 🤗

[@jihanabdurrafi1925]

Only the under-educated would think being less informed would be a good solution to a problem.

[@buzoff4642]

It's not under-educated, it's radicalized. There's no think going on, when spun up with emotion. Which is what Libertarian are doing. What told me this is a Koch/ALEC "Libertarian" project, is big picture statement in this interview, the radicals come out to vote and put radicals in office.

[@BookAndLace]

They take pride in it. Like a "hold my beer" level of dumb-fluckery.

[@lasgoyines]

Librarían are my héroes!! Librarians are the ones they bring the community together So sad 😢😢😢😢😢😢😢

[@signimprovement]

This is unbelievable. Incredible trauma. I am so sorry to read this.

[@clefnoteproductions6695]

I'd sue the school board, and hold each person accountable for their online attacks

[@Marymary-ik1bx]

You are an inspiration. Vote 💙💙💙💙💙

[@waldlaeuferinunterwegs6841]

I followed that story when it happened. I'm a librarian myself. If you chose that profession it's NOT because you want to be a heroic public figure. You want to be an unobtrusive useful person without drama. I guess this has happened to a number of colleagues who have disappeared from the radar for good. This librarian is AWESOME 🫶🏻📚💪🏻📚👏🏻 She deserves ADMIRATION and KIND WORDS. Stop the hate.

[@janemack2667]

OMG! I am so sorry for her. I hope she gets to prosecute whoever libeled her. May she be given the highest regard from all sane humans. We love Amanda Jones! We are so grateful for you.

[@cathysolomons4973]

Thank you, Amanda. I'm so sorry that you and other librarians are going through this.

[@totonow6955]

You are the strong woman doing the everyday courageous actions that Timothy Synder describes in his book On Tyranny. I am sorry this has been a trial for you but you are a real patriot.

[@pupppt]

This is cancel culture.

[@malaikasmith3949]

No: this is American culture from way back.

[@AmateurHistorian999]

"Cancel culture" has always been with us, ftom scarlet A's to lynching to the KKK to Joe McCarthy to more lynching to today. Republicans accusing Democrats of cancel culture is rich; Republicans are the all-time masters.

[@Himmiefan]

Ironic that it's the right-wing doing this while they whine about cancel culture. Well, I guess it's an intellectual connection that they're not capable of getting.

[@buzoff4642]

@@malaikasmith3949 American culture's been class warfare from the start. The Peoples History of the United States, painstaking detail.

[@d.m.3133]

It’s domestic terrorism.

[@lindas.martin2806]

And this is why there needs to be some issues decided nationally, not by the states, because whoever is governor basically can do what he or she wants, if I am understanding this correctly. jeered it seems we are going back to Puritan times. Outrageous!

[@joygimbel7760]

Vote blue up and down the ballot 💙

[@AmateurHistorian999]

"States' rights" is code for "we're bigots and gun crazies and we like it, so leave us alone." States' rights makes sense for some economic development, public policy like watershed management, etc. Otherwise, the states as "laboratories of democracy" is a cruel lie. Human rights -- like freedom from threats to life and safety -- are non-negotiable and should never be left up to the states.

[@d3pr0fundis]

Watch how those “states rights” become meaningless with issues like enshrining abortion rights in your state constitution. That’s why we have to keep pushing back until this madness burns itself out.

[@buzoff4642]

@@AmateurHistorian999 "watershed management" Not at all the case. States don't have rights to poison their public, nor send their toxic waste downstream.

[@saveUSall24]

Thank you Amanda for fighting for all of us who love books and freedom of thought. It is horrible what the ignorant are doing to you and others. I truly hope you win in court.

[@johnr9896]

God bless you mam. This so sick and should never happen to anyone.

[@Jehoshful]

It's straight out of the Fascists playbook; disgusting.

[@AmateurHistorian999]

​@@Jehoshful MAGA looks more like the Nazis every day.

[@emanwelxrt]

Amanda, I admire your strength, bravery, and courage - thank you for sharing your journey with us!

[@joygimbel7760]

Not all heroes wear capes. We are cheering for you 🗽

[@donmorris1540]

Amanda Jones is a true hero.

[@chrystireeves-turner6258]

I am so sorry you have been targeted by hateful extremists .You are a hero to many ! you deserve respect for your intelligent and giving nature. WE are blessed to have libraries, and all people including children should be free to read, learn and grow without threat and abuse.Thank you for all you do.

[@henriikkak2091]

There is something very very wrong with a country that goes after librarians

[@buzoff4642]

It's called globalization. It cost the publics greatly, and the nefarious are doing their best to redirect the anger locally. Predicted in the early 1990s, by entrepreneur Sir James Goldsmith, that GATT and globalism would cause political, cultural and economic chaos. Yes indeed, there is a great deal very very wrong.

[@d.m.3133]

It’s not just librarians but scientists and doctors. A guy killed his brother who was a pharmacist for giving Covid shots.

[@gregzgurl2004]

Amazing woman who is so brave! I’ll be so glad when those trolls crawl back under their rocks or bridges.

[@Kahtilani]

Your bravery and determination to stand up to such ignorance is admirable. It is shameful what the extremists are doing against truth, democracy, and the Constitution of the United States. The rule of law can prevail, but the process can be difficult. Stay strong and best wishes going forward.

[@rui569]

Can't we protect this people? Perpetrators should be held accountable under the law.

[@sandyhugheskawaii8730]

👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻Thank you, this was excellent!💖

[@erikpeterson25]

Good going mam 👏 👍.....you are giving a great example to AMERICA ....❤..... The dumbing down of America is showing it's face ....interesting comment About those complaining don't even have a Library card.... THANK YOU FOR YOUR EFFORTS AT INFORMING US

[@paularawlinson912]

Very scary stuff. Thank you for being brave against irrational actions and hate.

[@sandal_thong8631]

The author of _How Fascism Works,_ Jason Stanley, has written another book _Erasing History: How Fascists Rewrite the Past to Control the Future._

[@HelenCamile63]

1984.

[@buzoff4642]

@@HelenCamile63 Spot on Helen. Epic gas lighting. Started with globalization, costing the public, in some cases, everything. Fuel on the fire, persistent announcements of "good economy", class war declaration, "basket of deplorables". Net result of this hellish chaos, billionaires.

[@shannon4830]

I hope she sues these people for defamation. Can't she have them arrested for making threats against her?

[@AlloftheGoodNamesAreTaken]

Probably not in Louisiana. It’s kind of a terrible state.

[@jenniferburchill3658]

My greatest fear is that they'll join in the attacks and arrest her rather than the threat maker. The local cops will see the librarian as a criminal and the threat maker as a hero.

[@mountainlinx]

How dare a country that calls itself a democracy engage in banning books!?!?!? What we need to learn from that constitution and these founding fathers is most of all “the enormity of their transgression and their betrayal” (Farah Jasmine Griffin).

[@sumiland6445]

Happened to a librarian in Tulsa Oklahoma. The attack from Oklahoma magas was vicious. 8:59 Oklahoma now requires only a weekend seminar for anyone that wants to be a teacher. This is project 2025 agenda. Appoint their cronies, no experience or education necessary.

[@joygimbel7760]

Isn’t Oklahoma ranked 50th in education? Ryan Waters is a plague.

[@d3pr0fundis]

It’s so odd to watch people willingly making their children suffer to appease their in-group. Being less educated will not help you in the future economy (unless we inhabit some post-apocalyptic hellscape). These kids don’t stand a chance against their peers who are obtaining a proper education (not indoctrination) from a properly trained teacher. Does any prominent Republican leader send their kids to these extremist-run public schools? Absolutely not.

[@buzoff4642]

Our highest community expense has been, for the longest time, education. It's been in the Koch/ALEC bullseye for quite a while, for a variety of reasons - default smarter people, teachers union, tax expense. New purpose with this attack, get their radical libertarians in office.

[@sumiland6445]

@@buzoff4642 uh, in Oklahoma, it's extreme magas that have captured all of the state government and dismanteling healthcare, education, human rights. Project 2025 is implemented and codified. No libertarian anywhere to be found. All maga

[@HelenCamile63]

Um, what? I can be a teacher after a weekend of study? In a public schoo?! EDIT: Per Google, one needs a Bachelor’s to be a teacher. To be a librarian, one must also have a Bachelor’s.

[@tommani1198]

It makes no sense other than that the insecurities of the misled are pointing them to attack the institutions that serve the public as a whole.

[@Kwk16534]

That's how you destroy democracy create public mistrust of democratic institutions and government and then step in with dictatorship

[@urallwyz3498]

The World is really feeling worried about the US, 😞😭 things are not looking good. They have such a huge military budget and are getting very fascist. Americans need to try stay informed now, keep Speaking Up. Solidarity Amanda❤

[@buzoff4642]

Our government is no more under the public's control, than other nations. Elite own/operate governments. Stop and think about this, are 1 million people ever furious with 1 million other people? No. It takes rabble rouse to get soldiers to go kill other people they don't know.

[@tombrayton4412]

When will we recognize that this behavior, intimidating, and criminalizing librarians and books is an act of war, and those doing it need to be stopped ASAP.

[@buzoff4642]

When we recognize that this behavior comes from povertizing the public.

[@questcore636]

hard to do that in a all out culture war

[@buzoff4642]

@@questcore636 We aren't in all out culture war. There's a small percentage of Far Left/Far Right who're the army for the elite, in the bigger war: class warfare. Yes, the 82% need to show up to stop the Far Left/Far Right skirmishes. But they, and us, are monopolized with this, while the elite pocket the power of Washington. Most notably, most visibly, monopolizing the economy.

[@buzoff4642]

They are our libraries and librarians. We need to check in with them.

[@SMori478]

Stay strong Amanda! Dont let them make you quit! I too have been & currently am being harassed. Im so sorry you are going through all this hate.

[@nitesatyr]

"Challenging books that they never read." That says it all. Stay strong.

[@danpoole4915]

Thanks Amanda.

[@annawhiteley3128]

Prayers up for this librarian. I am embarrassed to be American at this point.

[@TinLeadHammer]

Prayers are what her opponents recite. Religion is the culprit.

[@veramae4098]

I'll remember you sister. Stay strong. Retired librarian. Elementary, High School, Prison

[@Silvie_youtube]

How can death threats not be taken seriously by the Police? How can the people making them be free? I mean threats cannot come under the protection of free speech, can they? It doesn't sound right. But then... I'm an European (albeit Eastern European) who has never been to the US. It still doesn't sound right to me. I'm a university librarian and this and other stories about the librarians in US makes me so thankful I don't live there. Hope you and your family are safe!

[@suzannebolin3710]

The police are often a part of this community,the hate full bullies, that everyone else makes excuses for.

[@orion6372]

Jones is a PATRIOT

[@dbadagna]

In my area of Ohio, USA since 2020, some high school libraries have severely slashed the size of their library collections, or abolished their libraries entirely and gotten rid of all the books (leaving a big empty room)!

[@suzannebolin3710]

Oh,oh no,I'm so tired

[@buzoff4642]

Boston closed a few of their school libraries. But not over this issue, lack of funds. Very expensive to have ESL for 190 different languages. Net effect the same.

[@ih8utbe]

I live in Columbus but I can see that there are lots of towns that have that mentality to ban books. I come from Willard (Conservative small town north of Mansfield). Most people are Maga supporters there. Scary.

[@d.m.3133]

They were going to close every library in Missouri and defund them but Missourians fought back because funding libraries are in their state constitution but make no mistake, they want to. If enough get power they will just ignore their constitution and get away with it.

[@orion6372]

EXTREMISM HAS NO PLACE IN AMERICA. We must start teaching people the paradox of tolerance and begin ENFORCING tolerance. Otherwise intolerance will prevail as it has through all of history.

[@peternakitch4167]

As a librarian in Australia I find all of this astonishing and disturbing: there are always a small minority of people who object this or that book. I have encountered them very occasionally in my professional life. But this is something quite different, a place where extremists use death threats, administrative and legal process, and bad law (legalising discrimination or controlling what everyone reads) to create a particular ultra conservative ideological landscape. How is this the freedom that Americans endlessly broadcast to the world?; it’s more akin to a one party, totalitarian state.

[@buzoff4642]

The endless broadcast of freedom is the shiny brochure, leaving the very definition of freedom to the imagination. US has attacked so many countries, to abscond with their natural resources, I don't see how anyone still believes the brochure.

[@shennashepard6750]

It’s incredibly disturbing what is going on in our country!!

[@georgemioch8981]

😂😂😂 right: some people believe kids should not read pornography and age: how horrible!

[@wally1663]

Well first I wouldn't think that because I know pornographic materials are not allowed in our libraries, and secondly, I would be a parent to my child. I told my child even in her preschool days what she could and could not read we would discuss it together and if she brings something home that I didn't feel was correct I would tell her that one goes back simple as that. We are in control of our children and if we are not that is what the problem is they don't want to take time to have to parent and would rather look at their phones and be brain dead. Instead of explaining everything on the globe and that there's all kinds of different people out there and to not be fearful of it we instead make it out to be all bad and fearful and we give stigmas and all kinds of problems to Children how can they grow and learn and develop and also learn how to be good citizens in America where we honor everyone's right to free speech and have freedoms for all.🇺🇸

[@cindywho134]

Years ago I wanted to be a librarian. I heard the keynote speaker at the American Library Association start his talk by saying librarians are the keepers of all knowledge. It's profoundly upsetting to me that this is happening.

[@orion6372]

Another corrupt and partial judge that needs to be dismissed

[@jessicapatton2688]

Book banning is counterproductive in my opinion. Some people want to read them more to discover why they were banned (like me) and it’s not like kids can’t access anything grotesque they could possibly imagine on the internet. At least with books they are reading.

[@sharonklauser9359]

thank you

[@sa.377]

Sometimes I truly wonder if half of the American population in the United States actually still lives in the middle ages or something.

[@buzoff4642]

Since you brought it up, 15M, last count by UN, 15M in the US living in 3rd world level poverty. Apparently people don't recognize there are consequences, to retooling the economy for benefit of billionaires. All kinds of consequences, public hysteria, for one, and putting the hysterical to use.

[@greenspiritarts]

This is unacceptable! Towns need to support their librarians and their kids…ALL their kids.

[@cimabuehw]

librarians are my heroes. They stood up for democracy when everyone else stood down...and that was under Bush Jr. Louisiana clearly hasn't improved. If anything, it has become worse.

[@71suns]

Louisiana is the poorest state in the US. John Kennedy R-Louisiana is one of their Senators who has done absolutely nothing whatsoever his entire time in Congress to improve the lives of the people of Louisiana AT ALL.

[@dorisglasgow8678]

She is so brave!🩷💙🩷💙

[@Darhan62]

Clearly she's been traumatized by this, and she has a case. As for why this is happening, some people just want to be bullies. If it wasn't about the targets being librarians, it would be for some other reason. This kind of behavior was fringe prior to the election of DJT in 2016. His "rhetorical style," to say it in polite language, created an excuse for such behavior by people who just want to act out. I think that's a large part of his appeal. His position as the leader of the Republican Party allows others to justify their own tendencies toward unkind behavior -- even the worst among us can feel like they're working for a purpose greater than themselves, rather than just surrendering to their own hurtful impulses, which is what they're actually doing. Character matters, and intimidation isn't an appropriate political tactic. And wasn't Melania supposed to tackle this problem of online bullying? Kind of hard to have credibility in that area when you're married to the man who made the problem so much worse.

[@buzoff4642]

Koch, not Trump, re: strip down the education systems. Trump's a magnet for fury, mindless fury. Much of the public's justifiably furious - unfortunately. And the rest of the politicians are skipping along with deflection. Living Min Wage - not a one will say aloud.

[@marciechilders2750]

I have noticed that most people warning books band have never read the book. So I don't understand how you are going to ban. A book that you have never read. These people just want power and to be able to control everybody else's life

[@buzoff4642]

"Those left behind" are very angry, and people aren't sensible when they're angry. This is a fabrication to redirect the anger locally, by "taking control". Secondary purpose, put them in office, political power.

[@71suns]

THEY NEED TO MIND THEIR OWN DAMN BUSINESS.

[@rsh793]

In France the libraries are wonderful places in the community where kids and parents come together and read books and enjoy time bonding and reading together as well as the children having somewhere safe they can do their study if they want and need to be studying their work. Education is held as important and families enjoy seeing their family grow. The country library near me has been a life line in many ways offering everything I have needed and great education. When we take away education we remove the greatest route to freedom and growth as human beings and when we don't want our children to know facts we stunt them and turn them into fools and dolts. Maybe you don't like a book - my mum stopped me reading a series once because it was turning me into an entitled brat - and we had a conversation about it - not a threat against the librarian! These people aren't civilised at all and should not be allowed near children until they become as mature as this librarian who is very brave and loves her job and community and should be held as an example of decency around the world.

[@buzoff4642]

What's going on in France where you have to define "safe" spaces for children? Genuine question.

[@71suns]

​@@buzoff4642Where did you get this information?

[@buzoff4642]

@@71suns ?!? It's in rsh's posted comment, "the children having somewhere safe". Did you not read the comment you're posting under?

[@CassilovesMocha]

My heart goes out to this strong, caring woman. But her courage is so inspiring. I hope she receives the justice she deserves. & Every other librarian that has been harassed and defamed over this kind of disinformation.

[@calumashleymcdonough8955]

Amazing woman

[@ih8utbe]

The censorship is getting worse even in public libraries as well.

[@yveeriksson7437]

Those who wrote the hateful messages are probably projecting. I hope the police investigate their computers and search history.

[@Rnankn]

Reaction formation, totally.

[@jenfnp]

Brave woman. Sorry you have to go thru this. You are a true American.

[@buzoff4642]

"Districts" don't like a book? So they're polling the public? That's not "soft" censorship, it's censorship.

[@ih8utbe]

Why do these maga people target libraries? Jealousy, hate, ignorance. I know im answering most of my question. This woman needs protection. Its horrible to have to face threats in such a manner.

[@glenjohnson5323]

Because they hate the 1st amendment

[@buzoff4642]

Sex, R has nothing to offer the public but hysteria over imagined sexual perversion. And the pretense of saving "the children". Migrants, D has nothing to offer the public but hysteria over illegal migrants. And the pretense of saving "the children". Meanwhile, the population moves into tents, as we proliferate billionaires.

[@d.m.3133]

You can control an educated well informed population.

[@RodWilliams-m7r]

I hope Airline Pilots in the south are the next to not need qualifications.

[@thecount1001]

wow. this is shocking.

[@leightonolsson4846]

Shame on them