![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
duckprintspress
text version of the images behind the cut!
Statement of Opposition Re: HR 8705 “The CHARLIE ACT”. Authors Against Book Bans (AABB) strongly opposes H.R. 8705, aka the Civics and History Advancement to Restore Learning, Integrity, and Education (CHARLIE) Act. H.R. 8705 is the latest legislation in the GOP’s crusade to try to erase entire communities from the story of the United States, and it will have a suppressive and damaging effect on our schools and libraries.
Much like H.R. 2616, this bill seeks to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to limit or withhold funding from schools whose American history and civics education programs teach “discriminatory equity ideology or gender ideology.” It is an attempt to codify Executive Order 14190 (“Ending Radical Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling”) and whitewash our nation’s history, leading to a loss of diverse stories and perspectives.
Teaching a full and honest picture of U.S. history is not indoctrination. Editing and sanitizing that history in favor of patriotic propaganda and white nationalist talking points, however, is.
H.R. 8705 will harm students’ education, critical thinking, and access to a diversity of books on their library shelves. In order to keep critical funding, public schools will be forced to preemptively pull thousands of books from their classrooms.
As a coalition of authors, illustrators, editors, and other book creators, we unequivocally support students’ right to read and access literature with diverse ideas and perspectives for their personal and educational development. We at AABB ask the U.S. House of Representatives to reject H.R. 8705 and protect students’ constitutional right to free speech and free expression. We stay committed to doing everything in our power to defend the freedom to read.
Sincerely and respectfully,
Authors Against Book Bans
Get the phone number for your representative in the US House of Representatives!
Duck Prints Press’s owner Claire/unforth is a member of Authors Against Book Bans and is sharing this post with their encouragement. Learn more about Authors Against Book Bans, including how to join or donate!
