What we are seeing is no less than an attempt to erase certain groups of people and their history. PEN America has released Banned in USA: Beyond the Shelves for the 3rd year, and the figures are grimmer than ever. They documented 10,046 instances of book bans ion 2023-2024, compared to 2532 in 2021-2022. Over the last three years, 6,143 titles and 4,563 authors and illustrators have been affected by book bans.
PEN America’s analysis of reasons why books were banned showed that:
57% included sex or sex-related topics and content
44% included characters or people of color
39% included LGBTQ+ characters or people
However, the focus on sex is a false flag, as we’ve discussed — and is often an excuse for removing content about the other two categories. For example, 19 minutes by Jodi Picoult is often removed because of a date rape scene and using anatomically correct language — not because it’s about a school shooting. I would argue that it is entirely appropriate for young adults to be aware that date rape happens. They already know that school shootings happen, unfortunately, but 19 minutes examines the effect on a community, building empathy in that unique and powerful way that good fiction can.
Make no mistake, the purpose is to erase representation for groups of people, even as these groups are systematically erased from public view. Sexual content is an excuse.
We’ve talked about the massive removal of books from DoD libraries, and the removal of the transgender people who were so crucial to the Stonewall riots from National Park Service information. The Army is deleting online content referring to women and minorities. The erasures are deep and sometimes unnoticed. A friend who was awarded a Presidential Awards for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching over 25 years ago mentioned to me that her biography - and everyone else’s biography — had been erased from the National Science Foundation website. Her hypothesis was that many of the science teachers mentioned environmental work or climate change or diversity (scientific or otherwise) in their bios. Meanwhile, high ranking black and female military personnel are fired. The first Black superintendent of VMI was pushed out. These are just ones floating around in my head right now — there are so many more examples. If you don’t follow Heather Cox Richardson’s Letters from an American, now is the time to start.
The Department of Education announced launch of the “End DEI” portal, in which people can submit their own reports of “discrimination based on race or sex” in K-12 public schools. They say they will use submissions as a basis for investigation. The statement from a Moms for Liberty co founder included in the official press release tells you what type of witch hunt this will be. Of course, forums that rely on anonymous submissions run the risk of being flooded. Today’s Washington Post suggested this policy may be softening, but I personally take that with a large grain of salt.
“For years, parents have been begging schools to focus on teaching their kids practical skills like reading, writing, and math, instead of pushing critical theory, rogue sex education and divisive ideologies—but their concerns have been brushed off, mocked, or shut down entirely,” said Tiffany Justice, Co-Founder of Moms for Liberty. “Parents, now is the time that you share the receipts of the betrayal that has happened in our public schools. This webpage demonstrates that President Trump’s Department of Education is putting power back in the hands of parents.”
Attacks on transgender people continue and become broader by the day, from limiting transgender people from playing sports, to limiting gender affirming care, banning transgender people from the military, removing nonbinary gender markers from passports and requiring gender as assigned at birth, banning international transgender people from entering the country, to limiting books and stories in schools about transgender people …. the whole point is to erase a group of people and they will not stop there. DHS also legalized surveillance of people just for being gay. (Note: Erin in the Morning is an invaluable resource for news about trans and queer news and legislation) Attacks are also under way to reverse Obergefell, the Supreme Court decision that legalized gay marriage.
Another thing that’s floating around in my brain is the role of white supremacy, fascism and Christian Nationalism. I feel pretty naive. I knew racism was not eradicated, but the degree to which racists and Nazi were building and planning the government takeover we are experiencing is staggering. I recommend independent journalist Molly Conger’s podcast “Weird Little Guys, ” in which she shares information about these people she’s been tracking for a long time. She’s got the receipts, and weaves the information into coherent and relevant tales. The most recent one dipped into what’s going on with the relationship between Trump policies and South African apartheid and the White Replacement Theory. Chilling.
RCPS update:
The School Board had no votes on books this month, leaving 26 books still banned. Matt Cross announced he’s running for re-election, which was not a surprise really. An opponent has not announced yet, although it seems like there is some strategic planning going on. Meanwhile, Cross, who has been relatively quiet on social media, posted a bizarre and unverified story told by Ben Carson about George Washington, in which Carson claims that the story about “The Indian Prophecy” was removed from history books because it mentions God.
VA legislature update :
Passed by Senate and House, awaiting Youngkin’s signature. HJ440/SJ251 Public school libraries; removal of certain books, report have both crossed over and are in committees. This law would require a report on books removed from Virginia school libraries to be published before the gubernatorial election next fall. Let the governor know how you feel.
Samuels Library, Warren County
Samuels Library in Warren County, Virginia was taken over by a hostile library board which now is trying to eliminate funding. There is a hearing on this tomorrow March 4. If you are anywhere near, attend if possible. More information here or in the Save Samuels Library Facebook page. And remember, if they can erase one library, they can and will erase more.
Action helps — show up at a protest if you can, make calls (5 calls is a good resource for this). Correct disinformation, providing sources of course. There’s lots of resources with suggestions. You can’t do all of them — but pick out the ones you can. A lot of people doing something can eventually have a result. Support your local library! If you don’t have a card, get one. There are a lot of services you can use even if you don’t physically go to the library.
I feel like this post is a bit scattered, but we are all being subjected to a firehose of nefarious acts. Impossible to keep up with, and hard to emotionally survive. I try staying disengaged — almost like a movie I am filming, which has a disconnect from the action while watching the action.
If you remember nothing else from this post, keep your eyes open for who is being erased, and who is doing the erasing. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Rest when you need to, find your communities. Use your voice. I highly recommend taking lots of walks.
Your reporting... your voice and your activism are important to us... thank you for all that you do Sandy and role modeling true community engagement by your actions defending our rights which are true to the democracy we've lived in.