Since December, Popular Information has detailed the extraordinary number of book bans being pursued in Escambia County, Florida. Much of this activity is being driven by one woman, high school English teacher Vicki Baggett. Over the course of this school year, Baggett has challenged more than 150 books, seeking to remove them from all school libraries.
I certainly hope the higher courts uphold this on appeal. It’s archaic. I am incensed by the gall some people have for thinking they have the right to judge.
A little slow on the uptake. First Admendmant violation was the immediate thing that popped into my head weeks ago when these book bans were announced. That and parents recalling the school boards. Democrats of Florida, organize, register young people to vote, get some good candidates for every race coming up and support them all the way to the victory platform.
High time these backwards, bigoted bullies were challenged. And, what kind of “English teacher,” who, presumably studied English literature at the college level, would ban so many books? She needs to: 1. Get laid; 2. Read more literature. Put down the damned bible, turn off the Fox Boob Tube, and do some serious reading. . .
Now, when can we file a Class Action lawsuit to repeal “Citizens United”?
We are always really grateful for your detailed explanations. I'm not an attorney much less a constitutional attorney such as President Obama or former US Senator Russ Feingold. I'm embarrassed to ask this question: Why isn't the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ involved in filing these lawsuits against Escambia County and Florida? Per the charter of the Civil Rights Division: "The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, created in 1957 by the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all persons in the United States, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Division enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, religion, familial status, national origin, and citizenship status." Is this division of the DOJ just so understaffed they cannot handle the caseload for all of the voter suppression tactics being implemented in states around the country (Texas, Florida, Ohio, other red states). Why do publishers, parents, teachers and non-profits such as PEN , ACLU, NAACP, and Elias Law Group (in the instance of voter suppression cases) have to tackle all of this? Thank you, as always.
Vicki Baggett’s overall goal is not to protect students exploration of knowledge and themselves, but to have them conform to her vision of knowledge and individuality. Shades of Fahrenheit 451. The federal lawsuit should be tagged - “Montag v Beatty”.
One woman's "fear" with backing by a GOP governor. I sounds more like a huge power play that is much like the Jan 6 attack on US FED government. This is a small scale fascist play. But if children / educators can't discuss anything about how fascism works it does not bode well for democracy.
Judd’s investigations are yielding many positive outcomes. From shining a light on the apparent illegalities of the Speaker of the state of Tennessee to the unconstitutional banning of books in the Free State of Florida.
We live in truly perilous times where radical right wingers are using the power of the state in ways that harm and even criminalize its citizens. Keep up the investigations Judd!
I would love to see your turn your attention to what is happening in Ohio right now. Specifically the August special election and the passage of Senate Bill 83 (now headed to the House). It’s akin to the goings on in Florida but not receiving the same national attention due to not having a Governor flirting with the White House.
Looks like a school board not qualified to define or competent enough to understand what education is all about. Public education should not be used to suppress minority opinion or personal inquiry.
Finally we hear from the parents! A few weeks ago I had the chance to hear a panel that included someone from Pen America and he had encyclopedic knowledge of discriminatory laws newly on the books, where they were being enforced and the demographics of the affected populations. Their involvement should help to keep this story in the news, but I think PI was among the first if not only journalism team that interviewed Baggett. Excellent work. Thank you.
Thanks for staying on these stories, Judd. I appreciate your reporting and providing clear and concise descriptions of what is at stake for all of us if we don’t push back in court and at the polls
Love your reporting. Q: Has anyone thought of challenging the bible? By the definitions used by others, one can find all sorts of objectionable passages in there.
I certainly hope the higher courts uphold this on appeal. It’s archaic. I am incensed by the gall some people have for thinking they have the right to judge.
A little slow on the uptake. First Admendmant violation was the immediate thing that popped into my head weeks ago when these book bans were announced. That and parents recalling the school boards. Democrats of Florida, organize, register young people to vote, get some good candidates for every race coming up and support them all the way to the victory platform.
High time these backwards, bigoted bullies were challenged. And, what kind of “English teacher,” who, presumably studied English literature at the college level, would ban so many books? She needs to: 1. Get laid; 2. Read more literature. Put down the damned bible, turn off the Fox Boob Tube, and do some serious reading. . .
Now, when can we file a Class Action lawsuit to repeal “Citizens United”?
We are always really grateful for your detailed explanations. I'm not an attorney much less a constitutional attorney such as President Obama or former US Senator Russ Feingold. I'm embarrassed to ask this question: Why isn't the Civil Rights Division of the DOJ involved in filing these lawsuits against Escambia County and Florida? Per the charter of the Civil Rights Division: "The Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, created in 1957 by the enactment of the Civil Rights Act of 1957, works to uphold the civil and constitutional rights of all persons in the United States, particularly some of the most vulnerable members of our society. The Division enforces federal statutes prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation, and gender identity), disability, religion, familial status, national origin, and citizenship status." Is this division of the DOJ just so understaffed they cannot handle the caseload for all of the voter suppression tactics being implemented in states around the country (Texas, Florida, Ohio, other red states). Why do publishers, parents, teachers and non-profits such as PEN , ACLU, NAACP, and Elias Law Group (in the instance of voter suppression cases) have to tackle all of this? Thank you, as always.
Vicki Baggett’s overall goal is not to protect students exploration of knowledge and themselves, but to have them conform to her vision of knowledge and individuality. Shades of Fahrenheit 451. The federal lawsuit should be tagged - “Montag v Beatty”.
Way to go PI team!!!
We can sue teachers now thanks to Tropical Hitler so how can I, a parent sue her? How do we come together and litigate her hate in court?
Wow! Judd and Friends strikes again.
That is a major coup for you and your team Judd. Keep it up! Keep those tootsies a'roastin!
I'd like to see University of Florida and others join in the suit as their future student body is being negatively impacted today.
One woman's "fear" with backing by a GOP governor. I sounds more like a huge power play that is much like the Jan 6 attack on US FED government. This is a small scale fascist play. But if children / educators can't discuss anything about how fascism works it does not bode well for democracy.
Judd’s investigations are yielding many positive outcomes. From shining a light on the apparent illegalities of the Speaker of the state of Tennessee to the unconstitutional banning of books in the Free State of Florida.
We live in truly perilous times where radical right wingers are using the power of the state in ways that harm and even criminalize its citizens. Keep up the investigations Judd!
Love your reporting, Judd and team.
I would love to see your turn your attention to what is happening in Ohio right now. Specifically the August special election and the passage of Senate Bill 83 (now headed to the House). It’s akin to the goings on in Florida but not receiving the same national attention due to not having a Governor flirting with the White House.
Looks like a school board not qualified to define or competent enough to understand what education is all about. Public education should not be used to suppress minority opinion or personal inquiry.
Finally we hear from the parents! A few weeks ago I had the chance to hear a panel that included someone from Pen America and he had encyclopedic knowledge of discriminatory laws newly on the books, where they were being enforced and the demographics of the affected populations. Their involvement should help to keep this story in the news, but I think PI was among the first if not only journalism team that interviewed Baggett. Excellent work. Thank you.
Thanks for staying on these stories, Judd. I appreciate your reporting and providing clear and concise descriptions of what is at stake for all of us if we don’t push back in court and at the polls
Love your reporting. Q: Has anyone thought of challenging the bible? By the definitions used by others, one can find all sorts of objectionable passages in there.