New Jersey town successfully beats back book banners with new "united against book ban" organization

[BlueWaveNeverEnd]

No Book Ban In Glen Ridge: Library Unanimously Votes To Keep Six Challenged Books
Liz George -February 9, 2023





Glen Ride, NJ – A standing-room only crowd of hundreds of people who packed the 800-seat capacity Ridgewood Avenue School auditorium in Glen Ridge Wednesday night celebrated Glen Ridge Public Library Board of Trustees’ unanimous decision to keep six challenged books on library shelves. The Board’s decision followed two hours of public comment from the community. The challenge came from eight residents in five households, under the letterhead of the organization Citizens Defending Education (CDE).

The six books that were challenged: All Boys Aren’t Blue by George M. Johson (YA BIO JOHNSON); Here and Queer by Rowan Ellis and Jacky Sheridan (YA SOCIAL QUEER ELLIS); It’s Not the Stork by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley (J PARENT 649); It’s Perfectly Normal by Robie H. Harris and Michael Emberley (YA HEALTH PUBERTY HARRIS); This Book is Gay by James Dawson (YA SOCIAL QUEER DAWSON); and You Know, Sex by Cory Silverberg and Fiona Smyth (YA HEALTH PUBERTY SILVERBERG).

The Board unanimously voted to affirm the Director’s decision that each of the books meet the selection criteria in the Library’s Material Selection Policy. Additionally, the Board unanimously voted that each of the books will be maintained in the library’s collection.

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Glen Ridge resident Phil Johnson organized Glen Ridge United Against Book Bans, a dedicated group of parents, residents, clergy, and educators who fought the ban and brought awareness to the issue with a community response that included a petition signed by more than 2,900 Glen Ridge residents, as well as 300 yard signs displayed around the Borough and a rally that took place before the vote. Many of those who came out against the challenge Wednesday wore one of 300+ t-shirts designed by a local Glen Ridge artist, featuring the town’s signature lamps with a flame in Progress Pride colors, and created as part of Glen Ridge United’s efforts.

https://baristanet.com/2023/02/no-book-ban-in-glen-ridge-library-unanimously-votes-to-keep-six-challenged-books/

[judesedit]

1. Good stuff

[RAB910]

2. Another failed effort by the GOP to increase

There fascist rule

[electric_blue68]

3. WTG, Glen Ridge! Cool Logo, too!

[bucolic_frolic]

4. United Against Book Bans

sounds like could grow into a replicable umbrella organization

[hermetic]

19. There is one already

EveryLibrary

Based in Riverside, IL 10 Years as our Nation's Political Action Committee for Libraries
EveryLibrary is the first and only national organization dedicated to building voter support for libraries. We are chartered “to promote public, school, and college libraries, including by advocating in support of public funding for libraries and building public awareness of public funding initiatives." Our primary work is to support local public libraries when they have a referendum or measure on the ballot.

Click here to volunteer, sign petitions, or donate: http://action.everylibrary.org/

You can find out more about the full scope of their work at www.everylibrary.org.

[NNadir]

5. Proud of the citizens of my state!

[FelineOverlord]

6. That's a big crowd for such a small town!

It’s a very liberal, highly educated, and wealthy area.

Glen Ridge is right next to uber-liberal Montclair (where Eric Boehlert lived)

[MagickMuffin]

7. More of this please, especially needed in Florida, followed by Texas

And the rest of the states hellbent on cancel culture of books.


Make them cry their crocodile tears 😭😋

[hermetic]

21. Hi!!

Good to see you. See Post #19 above to get involved or suggest to others.

[paleotn]

8. In most places, we outnumber the banners and haters.

If just a matter of organizing push back by the far larger number of constituents. Hat's off the Phil Johnson. Very well done!

The haters and banners make far more noise then their they're actually numbers suggest. When we flex our numerical muscle, they get relegated back to where they belong. The obscure fringe.

[PortTack]

9. Hoping communities across our nation see this and act if their books or libraries are threatened

[peppertree]

10. Next stop: Florida students WILL NOT be able to compete with others for college admissions, etc.

College admissions boards will read applicant essays from Sunshine State high schoolers, and just shake their heads.

"Another one from Flawrida, Prof. Harlow?"

"How did you guess."

[mountain grammy]

11. Best thing I've seen all week

People showing up! Fight back!

[AllaN01Bear]

12. this should become a nation wide movement.

[calimary]

14. Definitely and absolutely.

From coast to coast.

[peggysue2]

13. Good one on them!

I'm a native of New Jersey. I cheer the local citizens for protecting books, knowledge and freedom of expression.

We need more of this spreading across the country.

[The Mouth]

15. The people wanting *any* book banned are NEVER the good guys

[democrank]

16. Power to the people!

Hopefully this will catch on

[SouthernDem4ever]

17. Book banners don't come from a position of thoughtful intelligence

They are knee-jerk reactors that try and pass off nonsense rules on others without even knowing anything about it other than what they heard from some asshole on right wing radio or tv.

[onetexan]

18. Yaya💗💚💖🇺🇸

[republianmushroom]

20. good

I like and support their action.

[Cha]

22. TY & New Jersey!