Two members of Moms for Liberty, a right-wing activist group, have reported several Florida school librarians to law enforcement. They claimed they had evidence that librarians were distributing "pornography" to minors and requested that law enforcement officers be dispatched. This represents a serious escalation of the tactics deployed by members of Moms for Liberty against school librarians.
It is a crime to make a false police report. “The governor says” does NOT make something pornography. Lock a few of these witches up and it will cool this crap down. This is the stupidest use of law enforcement resources I can think of.
Well, where I work, during Covid, the rule was to go to an office, you had to be vaccinated. I had several co-workers in Florida use the "My governor said I don't have to be vaccinates and you can't keep me out of the office."
Jack, Your comment covers what I was going to say. Let’s get the law on these INCITERS and disturbances! In addition, we need witnesses to come forward if these bakeries that refuse service to LGBTQI are serving biblical sinners who have had premarital sex! Sue the bakeries for discrimination at random! Time to turn the tables. I always patronise places that say MAGAs not welcome or Fascists not served. We need to play their game. Wearing a torture devise around your neck? Also known as the cross..don’t serve. Although this is tongue in cheek, we need drastic responses from the public. These librarians must get our protection and the nut cases need to see our wrath!
Go for it! I bought three; one for me, one for my daughter, and one for my granddaughter. We wear them when we make a library visit together, but we're lucky - our little library here in Illinois gives out "I Read Banned Books" bumper stickers AND bookmarks!
As a little side note - throughout jr high and high school I worked in school libraries. Our librarians were the most encouraging people I dealt with. They encouraged students to read everything they could get their hands on.
The Ass-Wipe Floridian Republicans bowed to DeMoron bc he wanted to run for Pres. He is TOAST and needs to quit. he's blowing his donor money and has ZERO chance of WH aspirations. They got on board with this and until stupid Florida voters keep pulling the "R" lever it will get worse. Watch this 2024 session.
While these laws are faves of the white christian nationalist movement … prevailing on a false report charge is not that easy. A complaint can be wrong but intent matters. It must be proven to be deliberate. (I see that in FL it is a 1st degree misdemeanor.) This group has access to attorneys & is organized. I think to avoid that charge they bring “evidence” a “buddy” and talk of “wins” in other schools/districts.
A couple pieces of their approach stood out to me in addition to using a ‘buddy system’ for these complaints. First using the get on the bandwagon thing where they claim to have gotten their way somewhere else. Seems like this is a ploy to give them more credibility. Same story for name dropping the governor & who knows who else.
The second thing is not wanting to press charges and supposedly not wanting to damage anyone’s life (?). That makes me think they are getting a 2fer by going to local law enforcement. A. Possibility of an investigation. B. Issue referred to the school by LEO. Both are for intimidation.
All of it shows methodical planning of this coordinated attack by the self-appointed morality / thought police.
I have a friend moving back to Ky soon from FL. She’s lived in FL almost 2 decades and says it is “brutal” under DeSantis. Cross your fingers that our Dem gov prevails in today’s election.
Rigging, bending, pushing the system is the point. The new laws don’t need to go specifically go that far. The strategy in states is to make wording on ed laws sufficiently vague to be taken advantage of by the state, districts, random individuals and threaten those who don’t toe the line. Testing, pushing ignoring federal law. (Similar story with some abortion laws) — This Sheriff sent the issue to the school & they will use the visit to declare victory or war, make claims in some other district raise $$ blah blah.
This is such a good point. Their constant overreach and obsession with our children, our bodies. That’s why I wrote the comment about turning the tables on them. They walk around with torture devices! (Crosses)We can scream...terrorist! 😀
These folks from Moms for Liberty (a hilarious, self delusional handle if ever there was one) are mentally ill, attention seeking, intellectual midget Karen's of the worst kind. They should be laughed out of every library, school board meeting, and Weight Watchers meeting.
They are bank rolled by larger conservative groups. They are NOT cupcake crusaders. Think Koch Brothers, Heritage Foundations, The Walton Family.....etc. Seeking Rents did a deep dive into their money pit....READ. EDUCATE!
Unfortunately they have made strides in book bans, getting elected to office and affecting curriculm. You may think they are ridiculous but they are getting places where the can do plenty of damage. Take them seriously, they are a threat to Democracy.
Thank you for continuing to call out "moms for liberty" "good Christian women" who want to set back true freedom in our educational system. They're not for freedom--they're for stifling discussions that young people want to have and find beneficial. They are not appreciative of the wise and loving teachings of Jesus--they are judgmental, self-righteous, and fearful. We will be damaged as a wonderful home of the free and the brave if people like Baggett and Tapley [and DeSantis and Mike Johnson (R of Louisiana)] can suffocate our educational system.
The Bible portrays Jesus fraternizing with Mary Magdalene, a prostitute. Plus the incest, murder, etc. This book should be banned from schools! Someone should ask Moms for Repression about that.
I heard “freedom” by white evangelical nationalist groups only exists in the context of god’s law. Of course they want to be the ones who interpret that.
"Baggett told Popular Information that she challenged 'When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball' — the inspirational story of a Black woman who overcame racial prejudice to become an Olympic champion — because it would make white students 'feel uncomfortable' as 'they are being white-shamed.'" Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!!! This is SO sick. The true story of one person's experience "shames" every white student who reads the book. I'll tell you who should feel ashamed: MOMS FOR LIBERTY!
I guess Black kids feeling shame all these decades for their ancestors being enslaved is okay. But heaven forbid a White kid feels empathy for anyone else.
As always happens with right wing authoritarians, they over-reach, and Karens for Fascism is starting to do that in Floriduh. Time for librarians and others to fight back hard. Sue these assholes for harassment, defamation, or just being assholes. And damn, this woman went thru the book looking for all the "pornography"???? To mark it with sticky notes? Did she have sticky fingers when she was done as well?
I'm really tired of my name being tied to fascism. Do you realize that some not-so-enlightened people might believe it? Time to move on. If the point can't be made without the use of my name, perhaps there is no point. I speak on behalf of myself only, not the other girls and women named Karen.
Your point is well taken. In addition there is a small ethnic group of Karen people. I can’t imagine how those who fled to the US think about hearing this.
“The Karen come from the country of Myanmar formerly known as Burma. The Karen are an ethnic group who have resided in Burma for over two thousand years and were one of the first inhabitants of the region. Many of the Karen have fled Burma due to religious and ethnic persecution by the government.”
I have a dear wonderful friend whose name is Karen. She has a friend who now goes by Kacey instead of Karen (last name starts with a C), because of this meme. How would you like it if your name got attached to stupidity?
This comment mistakenly got posted below. My mistake.
Try growing up named Fred. (think "The Freeloader." "Flintstone.") Every adult thought they were hilariously original when they called me one of those, and it was my job to act amused or I'd be labeled a rude child. Dumb cartoon characters were named Fred, and some even had the F on their sweatshirt backwards (Super Chicken's sidekick if you're too young to remember).
The public must loudly support these librarians. What is the best way? Contacting Congress members, State Reps etc. Or take to the streets? These librarians cannot take the burden of this!
Agreed. Step one, replace local politicians who don't back up the librarians - town boards, city councils, school boards. Time to tell Karens for Fascism to f'k off.
But Librarians would still be harassed until election time. These Fascist-supporting right wing groups should have the police called on them for intimidation and interference at the job. They need a figurative slap in the face now!
What a cesspool of ignorance these acts represent. Shocking that this is where we, as a nation, and a species, are at now. I wonder if we are anywhere near to where it will subside, and the First Amendment will garner traction once again. Thanks, Judd.
Someone needs to tell this woman that if kids really want something "pornographic," there's this thing called the Internet which will readily provide it to them (assuming they have access to a computer or mobile phone). They don't need to go to the school library to do it, never mind that the book she's challenging clearly doesn't qualify.
Yeah, but these knuckle-draggers have no problem with Matt Gaetz sliming himself onto underaged girls. THAT is gross out pornography. Yuck. Barf. Goosebumps, Ick.
That struck me as well. The article says there's some making out and a couple almost has sex. I don't know about now, but when I was kid, basically everybody was making out with each other every weekend. The idea that kids aged 14-18 need a book like this to get the idea to make out is just so, so dumb.
There is a new group similar to MFL active in Chester County PA called Back to Basics. They're running for school board as a candidate block and do their best to come off as fair minded people (spoiler alert, they are not). I'll be showing up to school board meetings and voted to retain our current board, but note these groups are learning to put on a moderate face even in blue counties. Be vigilent!
It astounds me that these people don’t have anything better to do with their time. Imagine if they actually put some of that energy into action that would truly help people.
If this weren’t so dangerous, it’d be down right funny. Personally, I especially liked the part where the informant is angry that there’s a group trying to stop moms for liberty and another trying to protect abortion rights; as if her narrow minded viewpoint is the only one that counts.
Every town has those people that are attention-seeking, mentally susceptible, and in need of a hobby or friends. With the help of cult leaders like Steve Bannon and hyper sensationalized Facebook posts they are transformed into zealots. The meme about clowns with flame throwers is right on target. I’m sure many of us thought something like this could never happen in our country, but we dumb down our primary education, sanitize it, stop, teaching, civics, and left a whole generation of people who are now adults but who don’t have a grounding in world history, context, and have no idea the fire they’re playing with, or maybe even why they’re doing it.
Odds are they have no idea how many students in their county schools are able to read at the level these books are written. Low literacy is a major problem in the US among adults and students. Porn in schools? Not a real thing.
National Center for Education study before the pandemic (2012-2017) — According to the study, an estimated 24% of adults in Florida perform at the lowest literacy level and 35% perform at the lowest numeracy level. This puts Florida slightly below the national average on both metrics.
It is a crime to make a false police report. “The governor says” does NOT make something pornography. Lock a few of these witches up and it will cool this crap down. This is the stupidest use of law enforcement resources I can think of.
Well, where I work, during Covid, the rule was to go to an office, you had to be vaccinated. I had several co-workers in Florida use the "My governor said I don't have to be vaccinates and you can't keep me out of the office."
What asshats.
Jack, Your comment covers what I was going to say. Let’s get the law on these INCITERS and disturbances! In addition, we need witnesses to come forward if these bakeries that refuse service to LGBTQI are serving biblical sinners who have had premarital sex! Sue the bakeries for discrimination at random! Time to turn the tables. I always patronise places that say MAGAs not welcome or Fascists not served. We need to play their game. Wearing a torture devise around your neck? Also known as the cross..don’t serve. Although this is tongue in cheek, we need drastic responses from the public. These librarians must get our protection and the nut cases need to see our wrath!
I have a bumper sticker that reads:
I READ BANNED BOOKS.
You can get it on t-shirts, too.
I've got a t-shirt that reads, "I Stand with the Banned" and has a picture of a stack of frequently banned books -- Of Mice and Men, 1984, etc.
All forms of protest are good! We need to be visible to the public!
I’ve been meaning to buy one that reads, "I’m with the banned".
Go for it! I bought three; one for me, one for my daughter, and one for my granddaughter. We wear them when we make a library visit together, but we're lucky - our little library here in Illinois gives out "I Read Banned Books" bumper stickers AND bookmarks!
I have that one too! A great bumper sticker for sure!
I agree 100% with you, Jack. As a former librarian, I am just absolutely mortified at these crazy people. It’s shameful that they are doing this.
As a little side note - throughout jr high and high school I worked in school libraries. Our librarians were the most encouraging people I dealt with. They encouraged students to read everything they could get their hands on.
Jack, that is the best compliment you could ever give a librarian.
The Ass-Wipe Floridian Republicans bowed to DeMoron bc he wanted to run for Pres. He is TOAST and needs to quit. he's blowing his donor money and has ZERO chance of WH aspirations. They got on board with this and until stupid Florida voters keep pulling the "R" lever it will get worse. Watch this 2024 session.
won't happen. They're white
While these laws are faves of the white christian nationalist movement … prevailing on a false report charge is not that easy. A complaint can be wrong but intent matters. It must be proven to be deliberate. (I see that in FL it is a 1st degree misdemeanor.) This group has access to attorneys & is organized. I think to avoid that charge they bring “evidence” a “buddy” and talk of “wins” in other schools/districts.
A couple pieces of their approach stood out to me in addition to using a ‘buddy system’ for these complaints. First using the get on the bandwagon thing where they claim to have gotten their way somewhere else. Seems like this is a ploy to give them more credibility. Same story for name dropping the governor & who knows who else.
The second thing is not wanting to press charges and supposedly not wanting to damage anyone’s life (?). That makes me think they are getting a 2fer by going to local law enforcement. A. Possibility of an investigation. B. Issue referred to the school by LEO. Both are for intimidation.
All of it shows methodical planning of this coordinated attack by the self-appointed morality / thought police.
Yet in Duval County I can't even get the Bible in review. The system is rigged
I have a friend moving back to Ky soon from FL. She’s lived in FL almost 2 decades and says it is “brutal” under DeSantis. Cross your fingers that our Dem gov prevails in today’s election.
Rigging, bending, pushing the system is the point. The new laws don’t need to go specifically go that far. The strategy in states is to make wording on ed laws sufficiently vague to be taken advantage of by the state, districts, random individuals and threaten those who don’t toe the line. Testing, pushing ignoring federal law. (Similar story with some abortion laws) — This Sheriff sent the issue to the school & they will use the visit to declare victory or war, make claims in some other district raise $$ blah blah.
It is a little weird that Duval ignores issue in the Bible but bans The Berenstain Bears and the Big Question. Intent matters when they walk in these murky areas. You do have allies across the state. https://www.sun-sentinel.com/2023/07/02/could-the-bible-be-the-next-book-banned-in-schools-a-parent-thinks-so/
You hit the nail on the head! Thank you for sharing this with me!
Busybodies not only want to control what their kids read, they want to control what your kid reads.
Next they'll be going door to door asking folken to "volunteer" to have their books checked for any contraband.
They have to TAKE THEM from my cold, dead, hands. Wait a minute...
If they come to my door they will find out how a hardcover copy of Ulysses feels as a suppository.
😂👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
Ulysses is only indigestible the first time you read it.
Bulwer Lytton.
Good one Adam!
Don't be silly.
We need you.
A nice hard cover copy of War and Peace should knock them out cold.
Then report them for loitering.
Charlton Heston just rolled over, Adam
"Moms For Liberty" should change their name to "Busybodies For BS".
This is such a good point. Their constant overreach and obsession with our children, our bodies. That’s why I wrote the comment about turning the tables on them. They walk around with torture devices! (Crosses)We can scream...terrorist! 😀
Never thought of that one.
This is the door opener. They’ve honed their skills, they have a network, more way to control will follow.
Are you sure they even have kids?
These folks from Moms for Liberty (a hilarious, self delusional handle if ever there was one) are mentally ill, attention seeking, intellectual midget Karen's of the worst kind. They should be laughed out of every library, school board meeting, and Weight Watchers meeting.
They are bank rolled by larger conservative groups. They are NOT cupcake crusaders. Think Koch Brothers, Heritage Foundations, The Walton Family.....etc. Seeking Rents did a deep dive into their money pit....READ. EDUCATE!
Like the Tea Party - Astroturf, not grassroots.
They’ll fit in well with the authoritarian plans of Project 2025.
Exactly. This is a well funded, pseudo-grass-roots machine, remotely controlled by dark money. Look how fast they came from nowhere!
Unfortunately they have made strides in book bans, getting elected to office and affecting curriculm. You may think they are ridiculous but they are getting places where the can do plenty of damage. Take them seriously, they are a threat to Democracy.
Thank you for continuing to call out "moms for liberty" "good Christian women" who want to set back true freedom in our educational system. They're not for freedom--they're for stifling discussions that young people want to have and find beneficial. They are not appreciative of the wise and loving teachings of Jesus--they are judgmental, self-righteous, and fearful. We will be damaged as a wonderful home of the free and the brave if people like Baggett and Tapley [and DeSantis and Mike Johnson (R of Louisiana)] can suffocate our educational system.
The Bible portrays Jesus fraternizing with Mary Magdalene, a prostitute. Plus the incest, murder, etc. This book should be banned from schools! Someone should ask Moms for Repression about that.
Yes, but we can hear them rationalize, that like Trump, she was "forgiven." I'd suggest that she was never judged.
Well said!
I heard “freedom” by white evangelical nationalist groups only exists in the context of god’s law. Of course they want to be the ones who interpret that.
"Baggett told Popular Information that she challenged 'When Wilma Rudolph Played Basketball' — the inspirational story of a Black woman who overcame racial prejudice to become an Olympic champion — because it would make white students 'feel uncomfortable' as 'they are being white-shamed.'" Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE!!! This is SO sick. The true story of one person's experience "shames" every white student who reads the book. I'll tell you who should feel ashamed: MOMS FOR LIBERTY!
I guess Black kids feeling shame all these decades for their ancestors being enslaved is okay. But heaven forbid a White kid feels empathy for anyone else.
What does it say about a society when a story about a Black kid who succeeds might make white students feel "uncomfortable" and "White-shamed?"
Lots of bad stuff.
If they were capable of shame, they wouldn't be harassing librarians.
Anyone who doesn't see Wilma Rudolph as an AMERICAN hero isn't worthy of being an American.
As always happens with right wing authoritarians, they over-reach, and Karens for Fascism is starting to do that in Floriduh. Time for librarians and others to fight back hard. Sue these assholes for harassment, defamation, or just being assholes. And damn, this woman went thru the book looking for all the "pornography"???? To mark it with sticky notes? Did she have sticky fingers when she was done as well?
"Karens for Fascism" hits the nail on the head.
I'm really tired of my name being tied to fascism. Do you realize that some not-so-enlightened people might believe it? Time to move on. If the point can't be made without the use of my name, perhaps there is no point. I speak on behalf of myself only, not the other girls and women named Karen.
Your point is well taken. In addition there is a small ethnic group of Karen people. I can’t imagine how those who fled to the US think about hearing this.
“The Karen come from the country of Myanmar formerly known as Burma. The Karen are an ethnic group who have resided in Burma for over two thousand years and were one of the first inhabitants of the region. Many of the Karen have fled Burma due to religious and ethnic persecution by the government.”
I had forgotten that. Thanks for the reminder.
I agree. Call them what they are. Bitch. The Karen crap is so old and my name isn't Karen.
That does have a special ring to it Fred. 😀
I have a dear wonderful friend whose name is Karen. She has a friend who now goes by Kacey instead of Karen (last name starts with a C), because of this meme. How would you like it if your name got attached to stupidity?
This comment mistakenly got posted below. My mistake.
Try growing up named Fred. (think "The Freeloader." "Flintstone.") Every adult thought they were hilariously original when they called me one of those, and it was my job to act amused or I'd be labeled a rude child. Dumb cartoon characters were named Fred, and some even had the F on their sweatshirt backwards (Super Chicken's sidekick if you're too young to remember).
The public must loudly support these librarians. What is the best way? Contacting Congress members, State Reps etc. Or take to the streets? These librarians cannot take the burden of this!
Agreed. Step one, replace local politicians who don't back up the librarians - town boards, city councils, school boards. Time to tell Karens for Fascism to f'k off.
But Librarians would still be harassed until election time. These Fascist-supporting right wing groups should have the police called on them for intimidation and interference at the job. They need a figurative slap in the face now!
Sadly in many jurisdictions the cops are just as fascist as the Karens, if not moreso.
"Floriduh" :-)
What a cesspool of ignorance these acts represent. Shocking that this is where we, as a nation, and a species, are at now. I wonder if we are anywhere near to where it will subside, and the First Amendment will garner traction once again. Thanks, Judd.
VOTE!!!
Someone needs to tell this woman that if kids really want something "pornographic," there's this thing called the Internet which will readily provide it to them (assuming they have access to a computer or mobile phone). They don't need to go to the school library to do it, never mind that the book she's challenging clearly doesn't qualify.
Yeah, but these knuckle-draggers have no problem with Matt Gaetz sliming himself onto underaged girls. THAT is gross out pornography. Yuck. Barf. Goosebumps, Ick.
Or just open the Bible. Mary Magdalene, incest, child murders...
That struck me as well. The article says there's some making out and a couple almost has sex. I don't know about now, but when I was kid, basically everybody was making out with each other every weekend. The idea that kids aged 14-18 need a book like this to get the idea to make out is just so, so dumb.
There is a new group similar to MFL active in Chester County PA called Back to Basics. They're running for school board as a candidate block and do their best to come off as fair minded people (spoiler alert, they are not). I'll be showing up to school board meetings and voted to retain our current board, but note these groups are learning to put on a moderate face even in blue counties. Be vigilent!
Heard. And you have to wonder about the motives of any group that feels the need to pretend in public that they are anything other than what they are.
False flagging is it's own kind of message and any messenger bearing such tidings needs to be... stopped by any and all appropriate means!
It astounds me that these people don’t have anything better to do with their time. Imagine if they actually put some of that energy into action that would truly help people.
Right?? As they love to spit out with venom, “Get a job.”
Hahahahaha! As long as that job is nowhere near any "kids." You KNOW how those RW'z are around "the children."
Daughters of the Confederacy = Mom's for Liberty?
"Tapley described Baggett as "a valiant warrior for the kids, an amazing English teacher, and a wonderful Christian woman."
Christians? No! These folken are a sub-species of heretical post-human mutation that one hopes will prove unable to reproduce.
But they do, have you seen Idiocracy?
I have. I picture poor Mike Judge rolling his eyes and saying, "Guys! It was a CAUTIONARY TALE, not a GOT-damb INSTRUCTION MANUAL!"
Unfortunately, I have. Damned prescient too!
They would be the ones that would build the fire for the witches to be burned for God !
If this weren’t so dangerous, it’d be down right funny. Personally, I especially liked the part where the informant is angry that there’s a group trying to stop moms for liberty and another trying to protect abortion rights; as if her narrow minded viewpoint is the only one that counts.
Every town has those people that are attention-seeking, mentally susceptible, and in need of a hobby or friends. With the help of cult leaders like Steve Bannon and hyper sensationalized Facebook posts they are transformed into zealots. The meme about clowns with flame throwers is right on target. I’m sure many of us thought something like this could never happen in our country, but we dumb down our primary education, sanitize it, stop, teaching, civics, and left a whole generation of people who are now adults but who don’t have a grounding in world history, context, and have no idea the fire they’re playing with, or maybe even why they’re doing it.
Odds are they have no idea how many students in their county schools are able to read at the level these books are written. Low literacy is a major problem in the US among adults and students. Porn in schools? Not a real thing.
National Center for Education study before the pandemic (2012-2017) — According to the study, an estimated 24% of adults in Florida perform at the lowest literacy level and 35% perform at the lowest numeracy level. This puts Florida slightly below the national average on both metrics.
Scary. Low info voting public is bad news
Sick people. If they really cared about what is harmful to kids they would be working for gun safety laws.
Until people call out the Lunacy, publicly, Loudly, and continuously, this Insanity will continue.
Until these lunatics start going to jail for making false police reports, this insanity will continue.
I am so sick of these incredibly ignorant people