Purpose
To uphold the value of intellectual freedom in Virginia's libraries by monitoring and reporting on intellectual freedom issues in the Commonwealth.
Committee Member Roster
Statement on Academic Freedom from the Virginia Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee
Recent protests across Virginia's university campuses regarding the conflict in Gaza have highlighted concerns about intellectual freedom in higher education. The implications for free speech and access to information are significant.
The Virginia Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee staunchly supports intellectual freedom, equitable access to information, and the free exchange of ideas as follows:
1. Reaffirm Students' Right to Peaceful Protest: Students have the right to peaceful protest and expression of moral concerns. However, university administrators have the responsibility to publicize content-neutral, time, place, and manner rules for protest so other students can pursue their academic studies unimpeded.
2. Distinguish Between Critique and Discrimination: Criticism of any government’s or political entity’s decisions, or military actions, or of university policies should not in themselves be equated with bigotry. It is crucial for university administrators and community leaders to discern between legitimate critique and discriminatory rhetoric.
3. Ensure Academic Freedom: Instructors should not face penalties for assigning students reading or viewing material that presents diverse perspectives, including those critical or supportive of governmental policies or historical actions. Individuals should not be labeled as hostile to a population for recommending critical perspectives. Intellectual inquiry thrives on exploring differing viewpoints and accessing the widest range of information possible.
4. Ensure Access to Information: University libraries must serve as repositories of a wide range of viewpoints, providing students with the broadest possible access to information. The integrity of libraries as centers for student learning and access to information must be protected.
We urge educators, administrators, policymakers, and the community at large to uphold intellectual freedom everywhere, especially in higher education. We encourage the public to seek information and utilize libraries to delve deeper into the issues prompting protests. Let us continue to cultivate an environment that nurtures critical thinking, robust dialogue, and the free exchange of ideas, safeguarding our institutions of higher learning as bastions of intellectual inquiry and academic excellence.
Virginia Library Association's Intellectual Freedom Committee
For more information, please visit the statements on free speech and academic freedom issued by the organizations below:
Please email any questions or concerns to [email protected].
March 18, 2024: Vet Voice Foundation letter re: proposed book bans
The following email was sent with a letter to the school boards of Rockingham, Virginia Beach City Public Schools, King George, Spotsylvania, Fluvanna, King William, Goochland and Hanover; and to the Boards of Supervisors of Hanover, Goochland and King William today, March 18.
Vet Voice Foundation, a nonpartisan veterans organization representing over 1.5 million veterans and military family members, is deeply alarmed by the attempts to ban books in Virginia's schools and libraries. This letter is both a forceful condemnation of these actions and a rallying cry for the defense of our foundational freedoms.
As service members, we pledged our lives to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. This oath is sacrosanct, embodying our dedication to the liberties that have long set our nation apart, including the freedom of speech and the unfettered right to access information.
When books are banned, and voices are silenced, it is not just an attack on these rights but a direct affront to the very essence of democracy and the freedoms for which we, as veterans, have served to protect.
Please see the attached letter in support of the Virginia Library Association (VLA) and the Virginia Association of School Librarians (VAASL). Vet Voice Foundation stands in solidarity with the VLA and VAASL in their shared mission to protect and promote the freedom to read.
We hope that you will too.
VLA’s Intellectual Freedom and Executive Committees recently sent a letter to the Boards of Supervisors of King William, Hanover and Goochland Counties in response to an email to the King William Board by a resident.
Below is the email sent by VLA, and at the bottom this page, the original email (February 8) that prompted the response. VLA’s response was emailed on February 16. READ MORE
Celebrate Banned Books Week October 1-7, 2023
The VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee invites you to honor Banned Books Week, Oct. 1-7, 2023, themed "Let Freedom Read" by the American Library Association's 2023. Many libraries across the Commonwealth of Virginia will be hosting displays of banned books— books that while not completely eliminated from publication or distribution have been challenged and at times removed from libraries by government order. That some libraries find it politically unsafe to speak of “Banned Books” displays and need to use other terminology, such as "First Amendment" displays, provides a renewed justification for setting apart this week. Many libraries are also offering programming and activities, such as readings from banned books, to raise awareness about efforts to censor and the importance of standing for the right to read as a basic First Amendment and Civil right of all Americans.
We also invite you to read Nan Carmack's, VLA President-Elect, statement about Banned Books Week drafted by VLA’s President-Elect Nan Carmack, below.
Banned Books Week Oct 1 -7. 2023 - Nan Carmack, President-Elect, Virginia Library Association Banned Books Week serves not only to celebrate literature that disrupts comfortable thinking but also the very first idea that the founders of the United States of America added to our Constitution: The First Amendment. In asserting the freedom of speech to every person, our founders held sacred the notion that no one should be prevented from expressing or consuming ideas that others may find objectionable. Books that fall on the lists of banned or challenged books demonstrate the attempt by some to silence an author from expressing their ideas, their lived experience, their imagination. Bans and challenges also attempt to thwart the freedom of readers to explore the same ideas, experiences, and imaginings. Dr. Rudine Bishop Simms, professor emeritus at Ohio State University, wrote a famed essay in which she likens books to “mirrors, windows, and sliding glass doors.” These analogies demonstrate how literature can provide the reader with a reflection of themselves, a window into which they can view the experience of another, and very special books that allow us to step into another world entirely. In doing so, books have the power to help folks grow their capacity for empathy, understanding, and compassion. This week, we celebrate not only the value of literature that challenge our own experiences, but the American ideal of the freedom of speech, in which no one person or entity can tell us what we can and cannot read. This week, we celebrate the League of Women Voters standing up for the Freedom to Read. Which book will you choose to read in celebration?
356 unique book titles were challenged across Virginia in the first 8 months of 2023, according to the American Library Association. That's nearly twice the 182 titles that came under fire in the state in 2022, which was double the previous year's number.
-October 3, 2023
Email to membership: {VLA} Legislation Affecting Libraries Defeated: Update on General Assembly February 20, 2023
Resources and Continuing Education
Intellectual Freedom Issues and General Resources
Privacy Issues
Banned Books
Fake News Info & Resources
School Censorship
Internet and Net Neutrality
Reporting Challenges
Has your library experienced a challenge or a reconsideration of your materials, displays, website content, or another intellectual freedom issue? Let the VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee know, and we can offer support, guidance, and resources for you and your library. If you aren’t sure what constitutes a reconsideration or a challenge, please report it and let us know anyway.
Contact: VLA Intellectual Freedom Committee Chair, Keith Weimer
The American Library Association collects statistics on challenges as well to monitor trends in intellectual freedom issues. If you have received a challenge at your library, please fill out their quick and easy challenge report (this can be submitted anonymously).
Book Resumes
To help navigate the many book challenges happening in Virginia, VLA is sharing "book resumes for commonly challenged books. Resumes are completed by librarians throughout the state who volunteer to complete. Resumes can be found here.
If you're interested in helping with completing a resume, click to complete the Virginia Challenged Book Resume Collaboration form. You can select up to five books.
Court Cases in Virginia Beach 2022 in favor of A Court of Mist and Fury and Gender Queer
VLA has created a Dropbox of files related to the court cases, CL22-1984 (A Court of Mist and Fury) and CL22-1985 (Gender Queer). Original Petitions and Finals Orders are included, as well as briefs submitted by the authors, publishers and other interested parties.
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Virginia Intellectual Freedom In the News
Recent News
October 2024
September 2024
- September 30, 2024 Va. school board to pay $575K to fired teacher who refused to use transgender student’s pronouns https://virginiamercury.com/2024/09/30/va-school-board-to-pay-575k-to-fired-teacher-who-refused-to-use-transgender-students-pronouns/
- September 27, 2024 Why book bans have been so hard to stop https://www.whro.org/2024-09-27/why-book-bans-have-been-so-hard-to-stop
- September 27, 2024 Activists 'fight against censorship' in the largest US book bans: prisons https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/sep/27/prison-banned-books
- September 26, 2024 It's Banned Books Week. Library director Diane Kresh has a few thoughts https://www.arlingtonmagazine.com/arlington-virginia-library-diane-kresh-banned-books/
- September 24, 2024 Rockingham County School Board bans another book https://www.dnronline.com/news/education/rockingham-county-school-board-bans-another-book/article_1b554195-53fb-574e-a4f2-11cfd43ad54a.html
- September 23, 2024 Banned Books Week starts with mixed messages as reports show challenges both up and down https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ap-banned-books-week-starts-with-mixed-messages-as-reports-show-challenges-both-up-and-down/
- September 23, 2024 These are the 10 most banned books in America last year and why they were challenged https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/dc/dcpl-emphasizing-commitment-freedom-of-speech-during-banned-books-week/65-a19b53f0-13ec-41f1-9d5a-18d3683a31c6
- September 23, 2024 What to know about Banned Books Week https://www.salon.com/2024/09/23/what-to-know-about-banned-books-week/
- September 23, 2024 Recall petition seeks to oust controversial York County School Board member [Lynda Fairman] https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/recall-petition-seeks-to-oust-controversial-york-county-school-board-member/
- September 20, 2024 [Author Kenneth C. Davis] weighs in on the politics of book bans https://www.wvtf.org/news/2024-09-20/an-author-weighs-in-on-the-politics-of-book-bans
- September 17, 2024 This technology was supposed to help people in prison. It's backfiring in a big way https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/09/prison-censorship-tablets-book-bans.html
- September 17, 2024 Acquitted of perjury, longtime Loudoun Co. schools spokesman [Wayde Byard] has new book on school ‘culture war’ https://wtop.com/local/2024/09/acquitted-of-perjury-longtime-loudoun-co-schools-spokesman-has-new-book-on-school-culture-war/
- September 16, 2024 UVa ends disciplinary proceedings against pro-Palestine protesters https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/uva-ends-disciplinary-proceedings-against-pro-palestine-protesters/article_4ac26eec-73a6-11ef-800c-0f82ce67bbd8.html
- September 15, 2024 Why can't teens read? Here's a clue - Commentary: Are censorship and lack of challenging books factors in why your teen can't read? https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/openurl?ctx_ver=z39.88-2004&rft_id=info%3Asid/infoweb.newsbank.com&svc_dat=NewsBank&req_dat=65BDC701CAB84798964E3AC31D310C44&rft_val_format=info%3Aofi/fmt%3Akev%3Amtx%3Actx&rft_dat=document_id%3Anews%252F19B9A6349C0B8CD8
- September 14, 2024 New UVa protest policies tested for first time https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/new-uva-protest-policies-tested-for-first-time/article_ace2ceb0-7152-11ef-a24f-ff38e988cde8.html
- September 14, 2024 'We're being punked': UVa named no. 1 college for free speech https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/were-being-punked-uva-named-no-1-college-for-free-speech/article_1885c7aa-6f7b-11ef-93b9-2f52e9178a65.html
- September 13, 2024 Defending 'Gender Queer' from book bans https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/95948-defending-gender-queer-from-book-bans.html
- September 13, 2024 UVa will not be divesting from Israel https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/uva-will-not-be-divesting-from-israel/article_ccb031dc-721b-11ef-bfc3-db148d7affbc.html
- September 12, 2024 On-campus orgs navigate free expression policy changes https://www.breezejmu.org/news/on-campus-orgs-navigate-free-expression-policy-changes/article_4591c2a6-709f-11ef-bb1a-07df3da9ae92.html
- September 12, 2024 Rockingham County School Board permanently removes seven books from classrooms and school libraries https://www.whsv.com/2024/09/11/rockingham-county-school-board-permanently-removes-seven-books-classrooms-school-libraries/
- September 10, 2024 Glenn Youngkin spars with Texas journalist over education in front of rowdy liberal audience https://www.foxnews.com/media/glenn-youngkin-faces-boos-jeers-from-liberal-audience-he-spars-texas-journalist-education
- September 9, 2024 Prince William County School Board will keep challenged book in high school libraries https://www.princewilliamtimes.com/news/prince-william-county-school-board-will-keep-challenged-book-in-high-school-libraries/article_d5986618-6ed6-11ef-8216-fb2157319058.html
- September 5, 2024 Columbia and Harvard top list of worst free speech campuses https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/policy/education/3144564/columbia-and-harvard-top-list-of-worst-free-speech-campuses-report/
- September 3, 2024 School Board on long, hard road to censorship https://www.dnronline.com/dnronline/school-board-on-long-hard-road-to-censorship/article_2eea0e35-19df-5a8e-88a9-75be5231f48d.html
August 2024
- August 30, 2024 Major publishers sue Florida over restriction of 'pornographic' school library books https://www.wset.com/news/nation-world/major-publishers-sue-florida-over-restriction-of-pornographic-school-library-books-ron-desantis-penguin-random-house-book-bans-first-amendment-crisis-in-the-classroom
- August 29, 2024 University of Virginia suspends tours criticized for emphasizing ties to slavery https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/29/us/university-of-virginia-tours-slavery.html
- August 29, 2024 U.Va. suspends admissions tours led by the University Guides Service https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/08/u-va-suspends-admissions-tours-led-by-the-university-guides-service
- August 27, 2024 State Sen. Chris Head: 'Deeply troubled' by some Botetourt County library books https://roanoke.com/news/local/government-politics/state-sen-chris-head-deeply-troubled-by-some-botetourt-county-library-books/article_26a7c7b8-64c5-11ef-804d-1bd0df0553c6.html
- August 27, 2024 Updated policies place additional restrictions on protests at the University [of Virginia] https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/08/updated-policies-place-additional-restrictions-on-protests-at-the-university
- August 26, 2024 FOIA fight: blown deadlines, hefty fees, and extensions stymie access to Richmond public records https://richmond.com/news/local/government-politics/foia-deadines-fees-extensions-public-records-richmond-freedom-of-information-act/article_b35a1914-6172-11ef-a6dd-7321745bfa6d.html
- August 24, 2024 Oklahoma teachers were told to use the Bible. There’s resistance from schools as students return https://www.wric.com/news/u-s-world/ap-oklahoma-teachers-were-told-to-use-the-bible-theres-resistance-from-schools-as-students-return/
- August 23, 2024 Oklahoma revokes license of teacher who gave class QR code to Brooklyn library in book-ban protest https://wtop.com/education/2024/08/oklahoma-revokes-license-of-teacher-who-gave-class-qr-code-to-brooklyn-library-in-book-ban-protest/
- August 21, 2024 More UVa protesters see charges dismissed https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/more-uva-protesters-see-charges-dismissed/article_082a5604-5f4b-11ef-951a-833206beabde.html
- August 21, 2024 VCU introduces interim policies for free speech, expression https://commonwealthtimes.org/2024/08/21/vcu-introduces-interim-policies-for-free-speech-expression/
- August 15, 2024 Hanover Girl Scout commended by American Association of School Librarians for banned book project https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-girl-scout-commended-by-american-association-of-school-librarians-for-banned-book-project/
- August 14, 2024 Fauquier County school libraries will alert a parent every time a child checks out an item https://www.fauquier.com/news/fauquier-county-school-libraries-will-alert-a-parent-every-time-a-child-checks-out-an/article_8d2f8eb2-59d5-11ef-b2f8-07a4f52dae86.html
- August 13, 2024 How [Pamunkey Regional Library] in Virginia is being dismantled while debating 'sexually explicit' themes https://newsvirginian.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/hanover-king-william-library-pamunkey-system-ban-sexual-content/article_67c7e867-28c0-514b-a503-8bb3927512bb.html
- August 12, 2024 King William board vows to support two of its own libraries [withdrawing from Pamunkey Regional system] https://www.dailypress.com/2024/08/12/king-william-board-vows-to-support-two-of-its-own-libraries/
- August 9, 2024 Federal judges allow Iowa book ban to take effect this school year https://wtop.com/education/2024/08/federal-judges-allow-iowa-book-ban-to-take-effect-this-school-year/
- August 8, 2024 Utah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law https://wtop.com/education/2024/08/utah-bans-13-books-at-schools-including-popular-a-court-of-thorns-and-roses-series-under-new-law/
- August 8, 2024 Shenandoah County School Board members pleased with roll out of library book selection policy https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/shenandoah-county-school-board-members-pleased-with-roll-out-of-library-book-selection-policy/article_163ea225-2900-5a21-a86e-44a5268e7880.html
- August 8, 2024 New bans on panhandling in medians spark debate over free speech rights https://virginiamercury.com/2024/08/08/new-bans-on-panhandling-in-medians-spark-debate-over-free-speech-rights/
July 2024
- July 31, 2024 'Not a badge of honor': how book bans affect Indigenous literature https://www.npr.org/2024/07/31/1197958279/not-a-badge-of-honor-how-book-bans-affect-indigenous-literature
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July 30, 2024 In rare bipartisan vote, U.S. Senate passes package [the Children and Teens Online Privacy Protection Act and the Kids Online Safety Act] aimed at protecting kids online https://virginiamercury.com/2024/07/30/in-rare-bipartisan-vote-u-s-senate-passes-package-aimed-at-protecting-kids-online
- July 26, 2024 Challenges of two library books rise to School Board level in King George https://fxbgadvance.substack.com/p/challenges-of-two-library-books-rise
- July 24, 2024 [Meg Bryce,] Daughter of former Supreme Court justice [Antonin Scalia] appointed to Virginia Board of Education https://virginiamercury.com/briefs/daughter-of-former-supreme-court-justice-appointed-to-virginia-board-of-education/
- July 23, 2024 Students [at CDF Freedom Schools]fight book bans during National Day of Social Action https://www.wusa9.com/article/life/heartwarming/get-uplifted/students-participate-in-freedom-school-day-of-action-on-book-bans/65-703e8d5a-c72b-465e-9016-71eb00bb03b4
- July 22, 2024 Library goers fight against King William’s decision to withdrawn from [Pamunkey] regional library https://www.dailypress.com/2024/07/22/library-goers-fight-against-king-williams-decision-to-withdrawn-from-regional-library/
- July 16, 2024 Va. AG Jason Miyares leads 16 states asking Supreme Court to hear parental rights case https://virginiamercury.com/2024/07/16/va-ag-jason-miyares-leads-16-states-asking-supreme-court-to-hear-parental-rights-case/
- July 12, 2024 NPR fights for access to Virginia execution records shrouded in secrecy https://www.rcfp.org/npr-virginia-execution-records/
- July 11, 2024 Virginia Girl Scout Kate Lindley discusses her year of activism and the importance of fighting book bans https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/story/virginia-girl-scout-Kate-Lindley-Discusses-Her-Year-of-Activism-Importance-Fighting-Book-Bans-ALA-Annual
- July 11, 2024 Freedom Reads founder [Reginald Dwayne] Betts to receive top honor from Library of Virginia https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2024/jul/11/freedom-reads-founder-betts-to-receive-top-honor-from-library-of-virginia/
- July 11, 2024 Samuels Library still working on book removal requests https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/samuels-library-still-working-on-book-removal-requests/article_e2675bbb-1657-5560-bfe1-7e5539804f11.html
- July 10, 2024 The book banners are back [in Spotsylvania County] https://fxbgadvance.substack.com/p/the-book-banners-are-back
- July 8, 2024 Franklin County School Board votes to send survey out to parents over library policy https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2024/07/09/franklin-county-school-board-votes-to-send-survey-out-to-parents-over-library-policy/
- July 8, 2024 [Rockingham County Public School] board votes to retain several books, but removes 'A Court of Mist and Fury' https://rocktownnow.com/news/218812-rcps-board-votes-to-retain-several-books-but-removes-a-court-of-mist-and-fury/
- July 8, 2024 Fairfax Circuit Court finally makes case information available online for free https://www.ffxnow.com/2024/07/08/fairfax-circuit-court-makes-case-information-available-online-for-free/
- July 5, 2024 Youngkin administration denies FOIA request from member of own task force https://virginiamercury.com/2024/07/05/youngkin-administration-denies-foia-request-from-member-of-own-task-force/
- July 3, 2024 UVA withholds degrees from students who participated in pro-Palestine protest https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/education/uva-withholds-degrees-from-students-who-participated-in-pro-palestine-protest/article_091fb300-d5e6-5afe-bc83-224a5b05b967.html
- July 1, 2024 The Supreme Court also handed down a hugely important First Amendment case today https://www.vox.com/scotus/358326/supreme-court-netchoice-moody-paxton-first-amendment
June 2024
- June 30, 2024 Franklin County Public Schools to review book policy: keeping tabs on your teen's reads https://wset.com/news/local/franklin-county-public-schools-to-review-book-policy-keeping-tabs-on-your-teens-reads-superintendent-dr-kevin-siers-virginia-june-2024
- June 29, 2024 Youngkin names three new members, two reappointments to [Virginia State University] Board of Visitors https://www.progress-index.com/story/news/2024/06/29/governor-makes-appointments-reappointments-to-vsu-board/74250584007/
- June 29, 2024 Youngkin names five new members to UVa Board of Visitors https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/youngkin-names-five-new-members-to-uva-board-of-visitors/article_0f4c738e-363f-11ef-bbcf-f3daf1c66491.html
- June 25, 2024 School Board to consider new student speech policy https://www.loudountimes.com/0local-or-not/1local/committee-will-rewrite-draft-student-speech-policy/article_b9fd8d86-2e83-11ef-994e-af04d0fcf765.html
- June 24, 2024 I-95 Gaza protesters sentenced to jail https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-06-24/gaza-protest-interstate-95-sentence-jail
- June 22, 2024 LGBTQ+ librarians grapple with attacks on books - and on themselves https://www.register-herald.com/news/nation_world/lgbtq-librarians-grapple-with-attacks-on-books---and-on-themselves/article_44305ecf-7d08-5c36-9366-41da43096cc8.html
- June 21, 2024 Virginia Tech professors believe book bans hurt students and teachers https://wfirnews.com/news/virginia-tech-professors-believe-book-bans-hurt-students-and-teachers
- June 18, 2024 Contested book 'Crank' likely to remain in [Frederick County Public School] libraries https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/contested-book-crank-likely-to-remain-in-fcps-libraries/article_c4486e8d-91b3-509c-947e-ff23301b4ef3.html
- June 17, 2024 Hanover considers ending membership with Virginia School Board Association https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-school-board-vsba-sbma-sherri-story/article_2a1c36aa-2a90-11ef-8b98-abe43bb54fdd.html
- June 11, 2024 Virginia NAACP files suit against [Shenandoah County] school board that restored names of Confederate leaders https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/virginia-naacp-sues-school-board-over-confederate-names-rcna156505
- June 11, 2024 Rockingham County School Board returns another book to libraries, but questions two others https://rocktownnow.com/news/218812-rockingham-county-school-board-returns-another-book-to-libraries/
- June 10, 2024 What's a book ban anyway? Depends on who you ask https://www.npr.org/2024/06/04/nx-s1-4941240/book-bans-schools-libraries-censorship
- June 10, 2024 See You At The Library, [Kirk Cameron's] Brave Books's storytime, back in 2024 https://bookriot.com/see-you-at-the-library-brave-bookss-storytime-back-in-2024/
- June 6, 2024 [Virginia Beach] GOP Chair Laura Hughes indicted on felony charge by grand jury https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/vb-gop-chair-laura-hughes-indicted-on-felony-charge-by-grand-jury/
- June 4, 2024 One graduate’s quiet protest: Bringing a banned book to commencement https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/06/04/handmaids-tale-idaho-graduation/
- June 4, 2024 [Frederick Co.] School Board chair's first book challenge denied by 2 high schools https://www.winchesterstar.com/winchester_star/school-board-chairs-first-book-challenge-denied-by-2-high-schools/article_6a9ff3ed-da97-5573-91e1-e900bb6e4613.html
- June 3, 2024 [Virginia Beach public] libraries scale back partnership with VB schools as a result of new book vetting rules https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/virginia-beach/vb-libraries-scale-back-partnership-with-vb-schools-as-a-result-of-new-book-vetting-rules/
- June 2, 2024 The US librarian who sued book ban harassers: 'I decided to fight back' https://www.theguardian.com/books/article/2024/jun/02/librarian-book-ban-interview
May 2024
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May 24, 2024 An art show at an Augusta County school prompts an emergency school board meeting https://cardinalnews.org/2024/05/24/an-art-show-at-an-augusta-county-school-prompts-an-emergency-school-board-meeting/
- May 24, 2024 Moms for Liberty planning ad blitz https://digitaledition.pilotonline.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=fa8082df-e665-485f-a059-71b23da2bf30
- May 24, 2024 FOIA Friday: AG’s university protest guidance, former Petersburg superintendent’s pricey trips https://virginiamercury.com/2024/05/24/foia-friday-ags-university-protest-guidance-former-petersburg-superintendents-pricey-trips/?emci=4b51e8c0-6419-ef11-86d0-6045bdd9e096&emdi=11c507cd-bc19-ef11-86d0-6045bdd9e096&ceid=341658
- May 23, 2024 Spotsylvania School Board frevisits book policy https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/spotsylvania-school-board-revisits-book-policy/article_41d72d0c-185e-11ef-bada-7fb5fa33c04a.html
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May 16, 2024 Charges dropped against several arrested at UVa protest https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/crime-courts/charges-dropped-against-several-arrested-at-uva-protest/article_7f457128-1307-11ef-865a-1f877d5612d5.html
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May 16, 2024 Governor's office spurns FOIA request [for information regarding arrest of UMW students] https://fxbgadvance.substack.com/p/governors-office-also-withholding
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May 15, 2024 Hanover County School Board adopts new policy for parental involvement regarding library books in schools https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-county-school-board-adopts-new-policy-for-parental-involvement-regarding-library-books-in-schools/
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May 15, 2024 A leading free expression group [PEN America] is roiled by dissent over Gaza https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/15/arts/pen-free-expression-gaza.html?unlocked_article_code=1.sU0.mi3h.F60Eqk7LV36r&smid=url-share
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May 15, 2024 Pro-Palestine protesters block traffic, march to Virginia State Capitol https://richmond.com/news/local/palestine-protest-virginia-capitol-building-west-broad-street/article_d7dc9132-1234-11ef-ae2a-ebdfb41ba3a2.html
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May 13, 2024 2 Virginia universities won't require DEI classes after Governor's review, board pushback https://www.insidehighered.com/news/diversity/2024/05/13/vcu-gmu-wont-require-dei-classes-after-youngkins-review
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May 13, 2024 Administrators and faculty paint conflicting pictures of May 4 encampment clearing https://www.cavalierdaily.com/article/2024/05/administrators-and-faculty-paint-conflicting-pictures-of-may-4-encampment-clearing
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May 11, 2024 What we know about how UVA's narrative differs from eyewitness accounts of May 4 https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/what-we-know-about-how-uvas-narrative-differs-from-eyewitness-accounts-of-may-4/article_627ef8f2-0dad-11ef-b07b-e334e9b3c56a.html
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May 11, 2024 VCU students walk out of commencement during Youngkin address https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/05/11/vcu-youngkin-commencement-walkout/
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May 10, 2024 UVA officials defend arrests at protest as faculty seek review of decision https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2024/05/10/uva-faculty-seek-review-protest-arrests/
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May 9, 2024 Libraries: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO) https://youtu.be/42xZB80sZaI?si=5uyesyEUTocFN3dJ (video)
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May 9, 2024 Why book bans are bad for mental health https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/well-read/202405/why-book-bans-are-bad-for-mental-health
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May 9, 2024 Girl Scout given Presidential Citation by Virginia Library Association for project on book bans https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/girl-scout-given-presidential-citation-by-virginia-library-association-for-project-on-book-bans/
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May 9, 2024 School district’s review of books is underway — but will be done largely out of the public eye https://hburgcitizen.com/2024/05/09/school-districts-review-of-books-is-underway-but-will-be-done-largely-out-of-the-public-eye/
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May 8, 2024 'It wasn’t about the tents': UVa officials say outside agitators, aggressive behavior prompted state police crackdown on protesters https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/it-wasn-t-about-the-tents-uva-officials-say-outside-agitators-aggressive-behavior-prompted-state/article_e152c484-0cbc-11ef-8cf6-e317484bc212.html
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May 7, 2024 Freedom Reads donates thousands of books to Virginia prisons https://www.wvtf.org/news/2024-05-07/freedom-reads-donates-thousands-of-books-to-virginia-prisons
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May 7, 2024 UVA leaders address protest response, ‘fully and painfully aware’ of loss of trust from students https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/uva-leaders-address-protest-response-loss-of-trust-from-students/
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May 7, 2024 No one will take credit for calling state police on UVa campus protesters https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/no-one-will-take-credit-for-calling-state-police-on-uva-campus-protesters/article_ea6bd3f0-0c0b-11ef-bc6c-4b94bed580c8.html
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May 6, 2024 More than 125 arrested at four Virginia universities amid nationwide protests over Israel-Hamas war https://virginiamercury.com/2024/05/06/more-than-125-arrested-at-four-virginia-universities-amid-nationwide-protest-over-israel-hamas-war/
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May 6, 2024 A letter signed by dozens of U.Va. professors condemns school leaders over a police response https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/05/06/us/campus-protests?searchResultPosition=5#a-letter-signed-by-at-least-three-dozen-uva-professors-condemned-school-leaders-over-a-police-response
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May 5, 2024 25 arrested at UVA after clashes with police https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2024/05/04/university-protests-college-news-columbia/
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May 5, 2024 'No other choice': UVa president defends decision to call in state troopers on campus protesters https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/no-other-choice-uva-president-defends-decision-to-call-in-state-troopers-on-campus-protesters/article_c1ca3cfc-0a6c-11ef-9e81-c3c3430f481c.html
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May 5, 2-24 Pro-Palestine protesters march to Kaine's office, block Richmond intersection https://richmond.com/news/local/campus-protests-vcu-richmond-palestine-march/article_2144b3da-0be7-11ef-81c9-c74e7482f37a.html
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May 4, 2024 As colleges’ responses to student protests come under scrutiny, here’s how Hampton Roads schools are responding https://digitaledition.pilotonline.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=55766cc5-91d9-46f2-ba9b-8d784b8f08a5
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May 2, 2024 Protesters call for VCU president's resignation, condemn police response to demonstrations https://richmond.com/news/local/education/campus-protests-vcu-police-michael-rao-resign/article_b5f84c08-08ae-11ef-bc47-17bbf1ac2e66.html
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May 2, 2024 Virginia Tech protesters call for charges, disciplinary action to be dropped https://roanoke.com/news/local/virginia-tech-protesters-call-for-charges-disciplinary-action-to-be-dropped/article_25aa0ede-08db-11ef-b8db-4bd27ddcffeb.html
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May 2, 2024 Pro-Palestinian protesters at Virginia Tech challenge university’s account of events https://cardinalnews.org/2024/05/02/pro-palestinian-protesters-at-virginia-tech-challenge-universitys-account-of-events/
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May 2, 2024 Students, faculty arrested at Virginia Tech now face possibility of university discipline https://cardinalnews.org/2024/05/02/students-faculty-arrested-at-virginia-tech-now-face-possibility-of-university-discipline/
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May 2, 2024 Days after clash at VCU, demonstrators take to streets in Jackson Ward https://richmond.com/news/local/protest-vcu-jackson-ward/article_c34640b8-0822-11ef-b875-d753c34e6e0d.html
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May 1, 2023 VCU students upset about school’s handling of pro-Palestine protest https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-05-01/vcu-israel-palestine-protest-student-discipline-arrests
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May 1, 2024 They lived through the 2017 white supremacist rallies in Charlottesville — and say comparisons to pro-Palestinian campus protests are unfair https://www.cvilletomorrow.org/they-lived-through-the-2017-white-supremacist-rallies-in-charlottesville-and-say-comparisons-to-pro-palestinian-campus-protests-are-unfair/
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May 1, 2024 Virginia politicians weigh in on clashes on college campuses https://richmond.com/news/state-regional/government-politics/vcu-youngkin-kaine-warner-palestinian-jewish-virginia/article_1b109e78-06f8-11ef-9217-bb7ee71cb9ad.html
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May 1, 2024 UVA allows protesters to remain in 'liberated zone' so long as it doesn't become an encampment https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/uva-allows-protesters-to-remain-in-liberated-zone-so-long-as-it-doesnt-become-an/article_0e9fc03a-073c-11ef-bce7-5b11f0e17fbe.html
April 2024
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April 30, 2024 [Rockingham County School Board] passed new library policies, now what? https://www.dnronline.com/news/rcps-passed-new-library-policies-now-what/article_254966dd-4d57-50a7-841d-018a141f9b9b.html
- April 2024 Defense of Democracy Podcast, Book Bans and Brave Librarians: Fighting for Freedom of Expression in Virginia https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/book-bans-and-brave-librarians-fighting-for-freedom/id1690673554?i=1000653365292
- April 30, 2024 RCPS Passed New Library Policies, Now What? https://www.dnronline.com/news/rcps-passed-new-library-policies-now-what/article_254966dd-4d57-50a7-841d-018a141f9b9b.html
- April 30, 2024 Officials, orgs respond to Virgina-wide protest arrests https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-04-30/vt-umw-vcu-palestine-israel-antiwar-protests-statements
- April 30, 2024 [Richmond Mayor Levar] Stoney voices support for VCU while some on Council condemn police response https://richmond.com/news/local/education/vcu-protest-mayor-levar-stoney-richmond-city-council-police/article_95b5aa8e-071a-11ef-ab5e-1bcffdd8416c.html
- April 30, 2024 UMW president meets with students to discuss protest arrests https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2024/04/30/umw-president-meets-with-students-to-discuss-protest-arrests/
- April 30, 2024 Police arrested 13 at VCU pro-Palestinian protest https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/04/30/vcu-student-protest-arrests-israel-gaza/
- April 30, 2024 Demonstration for Palestine at CNU remains peaceful https://www.pilotonline.com/2024/04/30/demonstration-for-palestine-at-christopher-newport-remains-peaceful/
- April 29, 2024 Youngkin says no encampments on Virginia campuses; supports 'peaceful' protests https://virginiamercury.com/2024/04/29/youngkin-says-no-encampments-on-virginia-campuses-supports-peaceful-protests/
- April 29, 2024 82 people arrested at Virginia Tech encampment, university says https://cardinalnews.org/2024/04/29/91-people-arrested-at-virginia-tech-encampment-university-says/
- April 28, 2024 As colleges weigh crackdowns on protests, questions about outsiders linger https://www.nytimes.com/2024/04/28/us/college-campus-protests.html [paywalled]
- April 28, 2024 Protest at Virginia Tech swells, police moving to break it up late Sunday https://roanoke.com/news/local/education/protest-virginia-tech-palestine-sunday/article_ee422730-05bd-11ef-8eb7-bf3e6f1cb43a.html
- April 27, 2024 UVA students, faculty named in blacklist, accused of antisemitism without evidence https://dailyprogress.com/news/local/education/uva-students-faculty-named-in-blacklist-accused-of-antisemitism-without-evidence/article_7ec6ba28-01d6-11ef-a0c3-b795f4c706ae.html
- April 27, 2024 UMW students arrested after re-erecting [Students for Justice in Palestine] encampment https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2024/04/27/breaking-umw-students-arrested-after-re-erecting-encampment/
- April 26, 2024 UMW students set up encampment in support of Palestine https://www.fredericksburgfreepress.com/2024/04/26/umw-students-set-up-encampment-in-support-of-palestine/
- April 26, 2024 Girl Scout fights back, says Hanover censored project during Gold Award recognition https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/girl-scout-fights-back-says-hanover-censored-project-during-gold-award-recognition/
- April 26, 2024 Virginia Tech students join wave of campus protest encampments, Senator weighs in https://www.wric.com/news/western-virginia/virginia-tech-students-join-wave-of-campus-protest-encampments-senator-weighs-in/
- April 25, 2024 Girl Scout who created banned book nooks thanks Hanover for 'censoring' her Gold Award https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-girl-scout-gold-award-censored-book-nooks-banned-hcps/article_0881a8be-02b7-11ef-9a19-03a5be827fa0.html
- April 25, 2024 States turning tables on book bans https://digitaledition.pilotonline.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=a07c474d-801a-48e0-9b16-0528a244cf5d
- April 23, 2024 Senate passes TikTok ban bill, sending it to President Biden’s desk https://www.theverge.com/2024/4/23/24137638/senate-passes-tiktok-ban-bill-divest-bytedance-foreign-aid
- April 19, 2024 Hanover Board of Supervisors pull commendation for Girl Scout who created ‘Banned Book Nook’ https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-board-of-supervisors-pull-commendation-for-girl-scout-who-created-banned-book-nook/
- April 16, 2024 New report finds unprecedented surge in school book bans https://pen.org/press-release/new-report-find-unprecedented-surge-in-school-books-bans/
- April 15, 2024 Virginia NAACP sues Youngkin over alleged FOIA violation, concerns about equity in state government https://www.wric.com/news/virginia-news/virginia-naacp-sues-youngkin-over-alleged-foia-violation/
- April 15, 2024 Education ethic: school board leadership [editorial by former Rockingham County School Board members] https://www.dnronline.com/opinion/open_forum/education-ethic-school-board-leadership/article_1820651a-0f9b-5658-b06c-451331c42497.html
- April 15, 2024 Why [Rockingham County] School Board pulled 57 books off library shelves https://wvpublic.org/why-an-appalachian-school-board-pulled-57-books-off-library-shelves/
- April 11, 2024 Judge dismisses defamation suit of library combatants https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/judge-dismisses-defamation-suit-of-library-combatants/article_ae55f244-a4bc-54f6-a437-655adbf45cfe.html
- April 11, 2024 Hanover County supervisors censor commendation for Girl Scout who fought censorship https://www.wvtf.org/news/2024-04-11/hanover-county-supervisors-censor-commendation-for-girl-scout-who-fought-censorship
- April 11, 2024 Hanover County School Board introduces revised library policy https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-04-11/hanover-county-virginia-school-lbrary-policy
- April 10, 2024 What's in Rockingham County's proposed [school] library policies? https://www.dnronline.com/news/whats-in-rockingham-countys-proposed-library-policies/article_9786ab24-f73f-50bd-bc18-c3602487eab2.html
- April 9, 2024 Virginia librarians are pushing back against book bans https://holacultura.com/virginia-librarians-are-pushing-back-against-book-bans/
- April 8, 2024 Bomb threat interrupts Drag Story Hour at [Arlington] Virginia gay bar https://www.losangelesblade.com/2024/04/08/bomb-threat-interrupts-drag-story-hour-at-virginia-gay-bar/
- April 8, 2024 Maia Kobabe’s ‘Gender Queer’ tops list of most criticized library books for third straight year https://www.wric.com/entertainment-news/ap-maia-kobabes-gender-queer-tops-list-of-most-criticized-library-books-for-third-straight-year/
- April 7, 2024 'It's been devastating': a Q&A with the top librarian fighting the GOP's book bans https://www.huffpost.com/entry/american-library-association-emily-drabinski-book-bans_n_66102163e4b083254eac0549
- April 6, 2024 VCU students protest Youngkin's request to review racial literacy course https://richmond.com/news/local/education/vcu-students-protest-youngkins-request-to-review-racial-literacy-course/article_c8ba4c94-f443-11ee-bb40-93382da69635.html
- April 5, 2024 Bridgewater College student holds ‘Banned Book Fair’ in response to Rockingham County Public Schools https://www.whsv.com/2024/04/05/bridgewater-college-student-holds-banned-book-fair-response-rockingham-county-public-schools/
March 2024
- March 25, 2024 Many Rockingham Co. parents and school staff have opinions and almost all have questions about book policies https://hburgcitizen.com/2024/03/25/many-rockingham-co-parents-and-school-staff-have-opinions-and-almost-all-have-questions-about-book-policies/
- March 25, 2024 Virginia ranked second highest in attempts to restrict books https://www.thecentersquare.com/virginia/article_1d0dc626-eb0d-11ee-8028-bf06bc22417b.html
- March 25, 2024 Bible remains in Hanover County school libraries despite challenge https://richmond.com/news/local/education/hanover-book-ban-bible-challenge-school-board-library-policy/article_1a091654-e89e-11ee-b02d-bf9649529e8b.html
- March 21, 2024 Self-polinating narrator of 'Wishtree' called 'indoctrination,' Virginia District Read canceled https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/story/Self-Pollinating-Narrator-of-Wishtree-Called-Indoctrination-Virginia-County-Group-Read-Cancelled-censorship-News
- March 20, 2024 In Virginia, censors attempt to axe Wishtree https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/94637-in-virginia-censors-attempt-to-axe-wishtree.html
- March 19, 2024 Supreme Court case examines social media misinformation and censorship https://www.whsv.com/2024/03/19/supreme-court-case-examines-social-media-misinformation-censorship/
- March 15, 2024 VCU provost sends racial literacy syllabi to Youngkin's Cabinet https://www.vpm.org/news/2024-03-15/virginia-commonwealth-university-vcu-racial-literacy-vdoe
- March 15, 2024 Authors withdraw from PEN America festival in protest over Israel-Gaza war https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/mar/15/pen-america-festival-authors-withdraw-israel-gaza-war-protest
- March 14, 2024 ALA reports record spike in book titles challenged in 2023 https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/libraries/article/94586-ala-reports-record-spike-in-book-titles-challenged-in-2023.html
- March 14, 2024 Censorship efforts at libraries continued to soar in 2023, according to a new report https://www.wric.com/entertainment-news/ap-censorship-efforts-at-libraries-continued-to-soar-in-2023-according-to-a-new-report/
- March 13, 2024 Spotsylvania fires schools superintendent https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/spotsylvania-fires-schools-superintendent-mark-taylor-hearing-set/article_4cba38aa-e13f-11ee-a4c4-3b1d437f784e.html
- March 13, 2024 Why the House voted to ban TikTok and what could come next https://whro.org/news/national-news/45722-house-expected-to-approve-bill-forcing-tiktok-to-either-be-sold-or-face-a-u-s-ban
- March 12, 2024 ‘Unprecedented intervention’: VCU professors concerned after Youngkin requests to review racial literacy curriculum https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/richmond/vcu-professors-concerned-after-youngkin-requests-to-review-racial-literacy-curriculum/
- March 11, 2024 [Rockingham County Public School] Board introduces draft policy for library books https://www.dnronline.com/news/rcps-board-introduces-draft-policy-for-library-books/article_26e35c94-12a3-5c4f-9a0e-cb6f7c91dfea.html
- March 8, 2024 Augusta County School Board delays vote on library policy changes https://augustafreepress.com/news/augusta-county-school-board-delays-vote-on-library-policy-changes/
- March 8, 2024 Virginia governor signs 64 bills into law, vetoes 8 others as legislative session winds down https://apnews.com/article/virginia-gov-glenn-youngkin-bills-signed-vetoed-33082fcc7ecda04f9c9b1706c2fc8bdb
- March 7, 2024 Hanover leader calls for change after children’s book with same-sex parents sparks controversy https://www.wric.com/news/local-news/hanover-county/hanover-leader-calls-for-change-after-childrens-book-with-same-sex-parents-sparks-controversy/
- March 4, 2024 Freedom Reads Opens 32 “Freedom Libraries” at VADOC’s Buckingham/Dillwyn correctional centers https://www.vadoc.virginia.gov/news-press-releases/2024/freedom-reads-opens-32-freedom-libraries-at-vadoc-s-buckinghamdillwyn-correctional-centers/
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