Community fears book ban is getting out of hand at event celebrating banned books

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WSMV) – A bridge to Terabithia, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone, To Kill a Mockingbird.

They are all popular and highly successful books for all ages, and they are also part of a list of banned books that continues to grow.

“People should be able to read the books they want to read,” said Rep. Justin Jones, D-Nashville.

According to the American Library Association, the number of censored books in 2023 increased by 92% compared to 2022. The numbers are clear: lawmakers are taking a hard look at literature.

“It’s starting to get a little scary because they’re starting to censor what we can learn,” Marisa White said. “It’s interesting to see that they’re now banning books that I was required to read in school, and some of the things they’re banning them for… It’s ridiculous.”

The most contested topics include the LGBTQ+ community, anti-police views, or racist material. In the most recent legislative session, Tennessee lawmakers passed HB 843, which states:

“Materials in a library collection should be appropriate to the age and maturity levels of the students who may access them.”

On Sunday, Jones organized a community celebration in conjunction with the Nashville Public Library to not only raise awareness about the titles on the list, but also to let the community know why the books are banned.

“The best way to fight these book bans is to increase access,” Jones said.

Two of the attendees were White and her daughter Ansley. At the event, attendees were able to take home one of the banned books, which turned out to be a sequel novel to a series Ansley had been reading.

“It was on her birthday list — her birthday is Wednesday — and she saw this and said, ‘Oh, I hope nobody takes that one,’” White said. “We didn’t even know it was one of the banned ones, so that’s interesting.”

That book, along with countless others on that list, will soon be on display in Jones’ office. He calls it the “Banned Books Club,” and it’s a statement he hopes to make to his colleagues this legislative session.

“Anytime you’re on the side of banning books or burning them, as we read in literature, you’re not going to be on the right side of history,” Jones said.

For recent book challenge numbers across the country, you can visit the American Library Association website.

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