No librarian should be prosecuted over "banned books" (add your name)

Librarians are facing the threat of prosecution—and even jail—for the books they include on library shelves thanks to Republican legislators passing new laws that ban books. [Sign the petition: Stop threatening librarians and let them do their jobs!]( Dear MoveOn member, In Arkansas, a new law threatens librarians with prosecution—and even jail—for the books they include on library shelves.1 The same is true in more and more states across the country, including Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Missouri, thanks to Republican legislators passing new laws that ban books about gender, sexuality, race, and American history.2  Librarians—who are devoted to promoting knowledge in free, egalitarian, inclusive settings—can be punished because of political interference that would restrict their freedom to do their job.  State legislatures, prosecutors, and local elected officials need to back off! [Will you add your name to tell them not to prosecute, criminalize, and intimidate librarians—and to show opposition to book bans and your support for librarians across America?]( Support librarians! Don't prosecute librarians for providing access to "banned books." Join us in opposing censorship, protecting our history and communities, and saying no to book bans. Let librarians do their job freely and without fear. [Sign the petition]( It comes as no surprise that these right-wing book banners are targeting books that teach accurate accounts of history and books that amplify the voices of Black, brown, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ authors. It's the GOP's latest tactic designed to eradicate conversations students have in the classroom around genocide, white supremacy, gender, and sexuality. Fortunately, librarians and their allies are fighting back. In Arkansas, librarians are challenging this oppressive law.3 In Illinois, legislators passed a bill to ban book bans.4 And librarians in even the most conservative settings are sticking together and sticking their necks out against censorship and for the freedom to learn accurate history, the freedom to read, and the freedom of ideas.5 [We need to fight alongside librarians—add your name to share your support, to oppose book bans, and to demand local and state officials stop threatening librarians!]( State legislatures need to reject efforts to criminalize librarians and instead need to pass laws to protect their right to do their jobs. Prosecutors must refuse to prosecute librarians for displaying books that are under attack by censorious would-be banners. And all politicians should affirm the "Library Bill of Rights" as put forth by the American Library Association.6 Let's empower librarians to be librarians! Show solidarity with librarians and libraries—and say no to censorship, book bans, intimidations, and unjust prosecutions. Support intellectual freedom and the invaluable contributions librarians make to our communities. [Click here to add your name to this petition, and then pass it along to your friends.]( Thanks for all you do. –Justin, Elsie, Saskia, Amy, and the rest of the team Sources:  1. "Arkansas librarians sue to block new law that could jail them over explicit books," NBC News, June 2, 2023 [  2. "Missouri librarians are risking jail time – for doing their jobs," Coda Story, March 30, 2023 [  3. "Arkansas librarians sue to block new law that could jail them over explicit books," NBC News, June 2, 2023 [  4. "Illinois set to become first state to end book bans," Politico, May 3, 2023 [  5. "Top stories: Librarians push back against book bans + News wrap 3/3/23 + Student video," PBS, March 3, 2023 [  6. "Library Bill of Rights," American Library Association, accessed June 7, 2023 [ Want to support MoveOn's work? The MoveOn community will work every moment, day by day and year by year, to resist Trump's agenda, contain the damage, defeat hate with love, and begin the process of swinging the nation's pendulum back toward sanity, decency, and the kind of future that we must never give up on. And to do it MoveOn needs your ongoing support, now more than ever. Will you stand with MoveOn? [Yes, I'll chip in $5 a month.]( [No, I'm sorry, I can't make a monthly donation.]( --------------------------------------------------------------- PAID FOR BY MOVEON POLITICAL ACTION, . Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. MoveOn Political Action - PO Box 96142, Washington, D.C. 20090-6142. This email was sent to {NAME} on June 18, 2023. To change your email address or update your contact info, [click here](. MoveOn's privacy policy was recently updated. To read our new privacy policy, [click here](. To remove yourself from this list, [click here](.