[KARAH RUCKER]

ANOTHER FLASHPOINT IN THE DEBATE OVER BOOK CENSORSHIP IS TAKING HOLD IN UTAH.

THE STATE BANNING MORE THAN A DOZEN POPULAR BOOKS FROM ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER A NEW LAW IN WHAT CRITICS SAY IS THE FIRST STATE-WIDE BAN OF BOOKS.

THE RULE REQUIRES BOOKS TO BE REMOVED FROM ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHEN AT LEAST THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CLAIM THEY HAVE PORNOGRAPHIC OR INDECENT MATERIAL.

AMONG THOSE BANNED ARE THE NOVEL “A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES” BY SARAH J. MAAS AND BOOKS BY JUDY BLUME AND MARGARET ATWOOD.

THE STATE STATUTE, WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST, SAYS SCHOOL AND GOVERNING BOARDS SHOULD PRIORITIZE “PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ILLICIT PORNOGRAPHY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.”

THE UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SAYS IT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO COMPLY WITH THE DECISION.

UTAH IS ONE OF SEVERAL STATES MOVING TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO BOOKS.

TENNESSEE, IDAHO AND SOUTH CAROLINA ARE PUTTING STATE GOVERNMENT IN CHARGE OF ACCESS TO READING MATERIALS.

PROPONENTS SAY IT’S NEEDED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SENSITIVE MATERIAL WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS PRESENT.

WHILE FREE SPEECH ADVOCATES CALLED IT “A DYSTOPIAN CENSORSHIP REGIME ACROSS PUBLICS SCHOOLS” AND “ANTI DEMOCRATIC.”

PEN AMERICA- A FREE SPEECH GROUP– TRACKS EFFORTS TO RESTRICT BOOKS.

OFFICIALS WITH THE ORGANIZATION SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY’VE SEEN A STATE-WIDE BAN ON A LIST OF BOOKS.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.