#flfreedomread
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Librarians, Legislation, and Media Training: Successfully advocate for libraries in legislature and your local community.
Speakers include:
John Chrastka, @everylibrary.bsky.social
Stephana Ferrell, ‪@flfreedomread
Lynette Mejía @la-cac.org
bit.ly/4f373mM
July 22, 2025 at 4:58 PM
txfreedomread.bsky.social
We proudly stand with @flfreedomread.
Texas is next, unless we change things.

It feels like Florida is about 6 months to one year ahead of Texas in censorship trends- liked because their legislature meets yearly instead of every other year like ours.
flfreedomread.bsky.social Florida Freedom to Read Project @flfreedomread.bsky.social · Jun 18
A broad coalition representing parents, educators, authors, publishers, booksellers, and First Amendment advocates are calling on the Florida Legislators in the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee to investigate the actions of the SBOE.

Send yours: act.pen.org/a/hillsborou...
Title slide: PROTECT DUE PROCESS: INVESTIGATE UNLAWFUL BOOK REMOVALS We, the undersigned, write to express our grave concern over recent actions taken by the State Board of Education and the Attorney General that appear to directly contradict both the letter and spirit of Florida law, undermine local control, and violate students First Amendment rights. We call on you, as members of the Joint Administrative Procedures Committee, to convene a legislative hearing to investigate this matter and ensure that appointed state officials are held accountable for what can only be described as an alarming abuse of power. Specifically, we stand in support of the Hillsborough County School Board, its media specialists, and its review committees, all of whom have followed established, lawful procedures for evaluating challenged books in accordance with Florida Statutes $847.001 and $1006.28 in addition to their own district policies. These professionals are now facing politically motivated attacks and coercion from the Attorney General's "Office of Parental Rights" and members of the State Board of Education, who are pressuring them to remove books without due process or legal justification. During the June 4 State Board of Education meeting, members demanded the immediate removal of 55 titles that they unilaterally labeled as "pornographic" without proper review and in defiance of obscenity law definitions and the statutory process. Hillsborough County followed these procedures faithfully. For several of the titles in question, district committees-composed of educators, parents, and community members-read the books fully and voted to retain them or designate them for appropriate grade levels. Despite this, the State Board of Education compelled Superintendent Ayres to remove them anyway, circumventing lawful local decisions. The situation has now expanded. On June 10, in response to similar pressure, Orange County Public Schools' Superintendent Dr. Maria Vazquez requested the permission of the OCPS Board to remove thirteen titles from high schools-six of which had recently been upheld by formal district review, including Forever... by Judy Blume, Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi, and Last Night at the Telegraph Club by Malinda Lo. Orange County's own General Counsel expressed concern that this may violate the district's legal obligations but noted that the perceived supervisory threat from the state made noncompliance untenable. And on Friday, June 13, Santa Rosa County District Schools also published its removals in response to statements made by state officials. These incidents are the culmination of a sustained campaign of intimidation that began during debate over HB 1539-an unpopular and unconstitutional bill that sought to eliminate consideration of literary value when banning books. That bill failed. It is now apparent that appointed state officials are attempting to implement its provisions by fiat, in clear defiance of legislative authority and the Constitution. Equating Pulitzer Prize-winning works like Beloved by Toni Morrison or / Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou with pornography is not only legally indefensible-it is an affront to the democratic principles that undergird our public education system. We urge you and your legislative colleagues to: • Hold a public hearing to investigate the legality of the State Board of Education's directives to local districts. • Affirm the autonomy of elected school boards and adherence to due process in book review and removal procedures. • Protect Florida's educators, librarians, and school administrators from retaliatory actions driven by political pressure. • Ensure the reinstatement of any books removed in violation of district policy and state law. The actions of these appointed state officials not only undermine the rule of law but also set a dangerous precedent for censorship without accountability. We ask you to defend the rights of Florida's students, teachers, and communities by ensuring the law is respected. Sincerely, The Undersigned ACLU of Florida American Booksellers for Free Expression Annie's Foundation Authors Against Book Bans Authors Guild Books & Books Candlewick Press Elana K. Arnold Ellen Hopkins Everyday Advocacy EveryLibrary Families for Strong Public Schools Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) Florida Coalition for Thriving Public Schools Florida Education Association Florida Freedom to Read Project Freedom to Read Project George M. Johnson Holiday House Interfaith Alliance of SWFL Kelly Jensen Lambda Literary Latinx Kidlit Book Festival League of Women Voters of Hillsborough & Pasco Counties Libro.fm Macmillan Children's Publishing Group Malinda Lo Military Families for Free Expression MomsRising Peachtree Publishing PEN America Red Wine & Blue School Board Integrity Project Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Southern Poverty Law Center Teaching for Change Texas Freedom to Read Project The Lynx We Need Diverse Books White Rose Books & More
June 18, 2025 at 2:29 PM
suedonymity.bsky.social
They've eliminated professional ethics requirements for Media Specialists such as equity, diversity, and global perspectives, requirements for identifying outstanding authors & illustrators & standards for maintaining bibliographic integrity. www.tampabay.com/news/educati... #flfreedomread #ala_aasl
Florida reduces competency requirements for school media specialists
Critics are concerned the state is looking for people to enact their agenda.
www.tampabay.com
July 18, 2025 at 1:18 PM
lucythebluecat.bsky.social
#FL was the test run for book banning. #GOP ❌education. FLDOE’s statewide list has grown to 2X 22/23 removal list. The devastating impact of the vague language and misleading state guidance on HB 1069 has had on our children's opportunities to learn. @FLFreedomRead on X www.fftrp.org/fldoe_publis...
Florida Department of Education Publishes Astonishing List Documenting over 700 Instances of School Library Censorship
The Florida Department of Education’s statewide list published this weekend is now nearly twice the size of its 22/23 removal list, and a quick review suggests the devastating impact of the vague lang...
www.fftrp.org
November 11, 2024 at 10:03 PM
shhhyeah.bsky.social
This is how I patrol and the company I keep (in my front yard).
A t-shirt that says "Support inclusive shelves @FLFREEDOMREAD". The woman wearing the shirt is also wearing a whistle on a cord. A butterfly!
July 9, 2026 at 5:58 PM
feaenespanol.bsky.social
Un nuevo informe de @PENamerica y @FLFreedomRead revela cómo las políticas de Florida están silenciando las aulas y censurando las bibliotecas.Cuando se les dio la opción, la mayoría de los padres eligieron permitir que sus hijos mantuvieran acceso completo a los libros.
June 11, 2025 at 3:55 PM
flbaloney.bsky.social
“what’s really happening is the systematic removal of ideas the government doesn’t want made widely available.” @FLFreedomRead www.floridatoday.com/story/opinio...
Florida’s book bans aren’t about parents—they’re about control | Opinion
Opinion: Florida’s book bans aren’t about parental rights—they’re about controlling ideas. A local parent explains why this matters to all of us.
www.floridatoday.com
October 13, 2025 at 11:51 AM
suedonymity.bsky.social
Proud to participate in the #BannedBookChallenge and tango makes three is such a heartwarming and beautiful story about love and families. @RedWineBlueUSA @nationalbook @FReadomFighters @FLFreedomRead
November 22, 2024 at 9:52 AM
bobtlibrarydino.bsky.social
They've eliminated professional ethics requirements for Media Specialists such as equity, diversity, and global perspectives, requirements for identifying outstanding authors & illustrators & standards for maintaining bibliographic integrity. www.tampabay.com/news/educati... #flfreedomread #ala_aasl
Florida reduces competency requirements for school media specialists
Critics are concerned the state is looking for people to enact their agenda.
www.tampabay.com
July 18, 2025 at 1:19 PM
drtlovesbooks.bsky.social
😲😲😲
This language is just BONKERS.

It literally says that if you don't want to chance a FELONY CHARGE (which basically disqualifies you from ever working in ed again), you'll want to avoid ANY material that someone MIGHT find "shameful".

x.com/FLFreedomRead/…
December 30, 2024 at 3:31 AM
drtlovesbooks.bsky.social
Lemme save you the read: It's literature.

x.com/FLFreedomRead/…
December 29, 2024 at 11:12 PM
judeykalchik.threads.net.ap.brid.gy
RE: https://www.threads.net/@flfreedomread/post/DIvwPG0xJ-Q
#HB 1539
Florida Freedom To Read Project (@flfreedomread) on Threads
HB 1539 heads to the floor on Thursday (4/24). Call your Rep and 3 more in your area. Tell them you support the amendments, but ultimately not a bill that seeks to give the state power to ban books against the will of the people. https://www.flhouse.gov/FindYourRepresentative
www.threads.net
April 22, 2025 at 11:20 AM