Freshman Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (D-FL) has introduced legislation to counter book bans and – indirectly, Governor Ron DeSantis’ alleged book bans. The Fight Book Bans Act would provide school districts with the necessary funding to “fight off a bad book ban.”
This would include funding for legal representation, travel costs, and generic logistical monetary support.
According to Rep. Alejandro Frost’s press release, the bill would provide up to $100,000 for a school district and a $15 million total appropriations cap over five years.
“Book bans in Florida and in states across the nation are a direct attack on our freedoms and liberties everywhere. As my home state shamefully leads the country in book bans, we cannot let this censorship and dismantling of our education system go unchecked,” said Rep. Alejandro Frost.
He continued by mentioning the efforts by various red states are an attempt to “silence and erase” minority groups.
“What we are seeing in Florida and states like Texas, Utah, and Missouri are loud and clear attempts by far-right conservative leaders to silence and erase our Black, brown, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ communities,” Frost said. “The Fight Book Bans Act takes a stand against censorship to firmly stand on the side of history, education, our students, teachers, and schools who don’t deserve to suffer the consequences of radical politics in the classroom. This is about protecting our libraries and protecting truth and history.”
Moreover, Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (D-FL) said that the State of Florida under Governor Ron DeSantis’ leadership has tried to “shove right-wing propaganda down our children’s throats.”
“Book bans stain the integrity of our educational institutions, contradicting the very principles of freedom our nation upholds. In Florida alone, over 1,000 books have been banned, disproportionately targeting works by Black or LGBTQI+ authors. As a former teacher and principal, I can only imagine the struggle current school teachers and librarians must be facing when trying to educate our children in light of attempts by our state to shove right-wing propaganda down our children’s throats,” said Congresswoman Frederica Wilson.
The bill was co-sponsored by Democratic legislators from the Sunshine State such as Representatives Kathy Castor, Lois Frankel, Jared Moskowitz, Darren Soto, and Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
