Illinois Passes Law to Prevent Book Restrictions
In response to alleged "book bans" in Republican states, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a "first of its kind" law to withhold federal funding from any of the state’s public libraries that restrict or ban material due to "partisan or doctrinal" objection.
Facts
- In response to alleged "book bans" in Republican states, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed a "first of its kind" law to withhold federal funding from any of the state’s public libraries that restrict or ban material due to "partisan or doctrinal" objection.1
- The law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2024, and will require public libraries to adhere to the American Library Association’s (ALA) Library Bill of Rights in order to receive state funding.2
- Illinois Sec. of State and state librarian Alexi Giannoulias was a driving force behind House Bill 2789, which takes aim at school districts and libraries that removed books containing sexually explicit content.3
- The legislation comes amid a wider push across the US as several states have reportedly introduced legislation to prohibit certain books in children's education.4
- The ALA claims that attempts to censor books across the nation doubled from 2021 to 2022, reaching a 20-year high.4
- Votes on the bill split along party lines, with Republicans opposing the new legislation. Illinois House Minority Leader Tony McCombie (R) maintained that his caucus opposes book bans but believes in granting autonomy to local districts and libraries.5
Sources: 1Associated Press, 2Reuters, 3ABC7 Chicago, 4ABC News, and 5WGN.
Narratives
- Democratic narrative, as provided by WTTW News. Pritzker and the state of Illinois have taken the bold step to officially prohibit the suppression of ideas and targeting of marginalized groups. This comes as far-right Republicans have increasingly denied the rights and existence of the LGBTQ+ community and dehumanized its youth. While Republicans look to move the nation's children backward, Democrats are protecting free speech and will continue to push forward toward a more inclusive and diverse environment.
- Republican narrative, as provided by PJ Media. Despite claims to the contrary, Illinois’s new bill against so-called "book bans" isn't a defense of free speech. Rather, it's another attack by the radical left on parents with differing opinions, who are seeking to protect their children from exposure to sexually explicit content and indoctrination from false narratives of America’s history. Maintaining age-appropriate requirements in libraries and schools is not the same as suppressing ideas.
