101-Year-Old Grace Linn Protests Book Ban in Martin County, Florida

Expulsion, rejection, and unrest have become prevalent in various parts of the world. In China, the former chairman of the state-owned Bank of China was expelled and accused of illegal activities and bribery [1143f976]. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan expressed his refusal to recognize the LGBT community and vowed to combat what he deemed as 'perverse' trends that threaten the institution of family in Turkey [1143f976]. Turkish forces launched attacks on militant targets in northern Syria, resulting in the neutralization of Kurdish militants [1143f976]. The Palestinian Islamist group Hamas initiated a major attack on Israel, leading to numerous casualties [1143f976]. Former Madagascar president Marc Ravalomanana sustained an injury during a gathering of his supporters, where tear gas was fired by authorities [1143f976]. Russia announced its intention to revoke its ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) [1143f976]. In Guatemala, President Alejandro Giammattei threatened to crack down on pro-democracy demonstrations [cfc2e754]. Representatives from various countries gathered in Caracas to demand the release of Venezuelan diplomat Alex Saab and to call for an end to Israel's mistreatment of the Palestinian people [f78aca85]. Job Sikhala, a prominent political figure in Zimbabwe, has been detained for over 500 days while awaiting trial, raising concerns about the integrity of Zimbabwe's judicial system [045e9518]. Two escaped convicts in Tunisia are believed to have carried out an armed robbery of a bank [a5b87bb0]. Journalist Mustapha Bendjama's lawyers have filed a request for his release, arguing that his detention is illegal and violates his fundamental rights [9572765a]. Nicaraguan human rights advocate Félix Maradiaga visited the British Parliament to seek support in freeing Nicaragua's political prisoners, including Bishop Rolando Álvarez [c235cf5c]. Álvarez was prevented from leaving his residence, abducted, and sentenced to prison [c235cf5c].

A teacher in Ontario, Canada, has raised concerns about inappropriate books being added to elementary school libraries without consultation. The teacher pointed out that some of the new titles, aimed at representing the LGBTQ2S+ community, may be misleading and inappropriate for young children. During a board meeting, the teacher was interrupted and ejected when discussing a book that made it seem simple and cool to take puberty blockers or opposite-sex hormones. The teacher was subsequently ordered to stay home from school, barred from speaking to colleagues and students, and faced a disciplinary investigation. The school board accused the teacher of breaching the Human Rights Code and engaging in hate speech. The teacher filed a defamation claim, and the court ruled in her favor, stating that the board's comments were defamatory. The article emphasizes the importance of free speech and the need to protect legitimate concerns about the rights and well-being of women and children. The author hopes that public and private entities will take note of the ruling and not be bullied into silence or censorship [289d7652].

Advocates argue that book bans targeting LGBTQ stories are discriminatory and harmful. The Queer Liberation Library (QLL) is an online library that provides free access to hundreds of ebooks and audiobooks featuring LGBTQ stories. It was created in response to efforts to censor LGBTQ literature in public schools. Between 2010 and 2019, only about 9% of challenged books in libraries contained LGBTQ themes, but in 2021 and 2022, over 30% of challenged titles included LGBTQ themes. QLL carries commonly challenged books as well as a diverse range of genres and identities. The online platform offers privacy for readers who may not be ready to explore LGBTQ books in public spaces. QLL can be accessed through the Overdrive website and Libby app. The library is funded by donations and is not beholden to government funding or school/library boards. Advocates warn that book bans reinforce stigma and exclusion, and representation in literature is crucial for LGBTQ children and youth to develop positive self-worth [3e5ed88f].

An anti-LGBTQ+ protester driving a tractor-trailer in suburban Vancouver flipped and rolled his tractor off the highway while engaging in a high-speed chase with the British Columbia Highway Patrol. The protester, identified as Bill Shoker, was participating in a rally against the province's Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI-123) curriculum. The curriculum promotes LGBTQ+ inclusion in public schools. The incident was caught on video and shows the tractor repeatedly coming into contact with a police vehicle before flipping over. The SOGI-123 curriculum has faced increased protests in the past year. In a separate incident, anti-LGBTQ protests took place across Canada, with demonstrators calling for an end to the inclusion of sexual orientation or gender identity topics in classrooms. The protests were generally outnumbered by counter-protesters supporting LGBTQ+ inclusion. Conservative parties in several Canadian provinces have introduced policies requiring parental consent for students to use a different name or pronoun in schools. These policies have faced criticism for violating trans kids' rights and privacy. The federal and provincial conservative parties in Canada are increasingly joining American-style culture wars centered on trans issues. The parties have proposed policies to restrict access to medical care, women-only spaces, and the use of chosen names and pronouns in schools. Anti-LGBTQ hate groups in Canada are becoming more organized and using intimidation tactics to harass and intimidate LGBTQ+ people and their allies. They have targeted drag events, school boards, and libraries and have received support from far-right groups and media outlets. Despite their small numbers, the protests have gained attention and created a false impression of grassroots legitimacy. Hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation have also increased in Canada. The incident in Vaughan, Ontario, where two people were assaulted and anti-homosexual slurs were uttered, is being investigated as a possible hate crime [7e925650].

The Boyle County School District in Kentucky recently banned over 100 books, citing anti-trans bill SB 150. This ban sparked backlash from students and activists, leading to a local campaign that drew attention to the issue. Book bans are on the rise across the United States, with a 20% increase in challenged titles reported by the American Library Association. These bans are often supported by political action committees (PACs) and national organizations, while students are organizing grassroots resistance. Bills like SB 150, which are anti-education and anti-LGBTQ, provide cover for book bans. However, in the case of Boyle County, the ban was eventually reversed due to statewide attention and public awareness. The issue of book bans is connected to a larger attack on public education. As awareness of book bans grows, community-oriented efforts have been successful in fighting against them [46db4d63].

Florida's Orange County removed 673 literary works from schools throughout 2023, including works by Gabriel García Márquez and Isabel Allende. The removal is a result of a law in Florida that prohibits books in schools that address sexual themes or feature LGBTQ+ characters. The law, signed in March 2022 by Governor Ron DeSantis, has sparked controversy and criticism. The banned books include 'Chronicle of a Death Foretold' and 'Love in the Time of Cholera' by Gabriel García Márquez, and 'The House of the Spirits' and 'Beyond Winter' by Isabel Allende. The law requires schools to offer books without pornographic scenes and with 'appropriate' content for students' age. Critics argue that banning books limits students' exposure to diverse perspectives and ideas.

The Jewish Public Library of Montreal has returned Élise Gravel's books to its shelves after accusations of censorship. The library had moved her children's books to closed shelves earlier this month due to social media posts by Gravel criticizing the Israeli government's attacks on Gaza. The library now says it supports intellectual freedom and equitable access to information. Gravel maintains that her criticism of the Israeli government does not amount to antisemitism. Her lawyer sent a cease-and-desist letter to those who accused her of being an antisemite, leading to the removal of her books. Julius Grey, Gravel's lawyer, argues that criticism of Israel should not be conflated with antisemitism and calls for a focus on finding solutions to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza [a90038a2] [7b074919].

A protest against the book ban in Duval County is expected to take place tonight. The protest is in response to the ban on certain books in the county. The ban has sparked controversy and criticism from the community. The protest aims to raise awareness about the importance of intellectual freedom and the right to access diverse literature. The event is scheduled to take place tonight, but specific details about the location and participants have not been provided in the article. [ae1cad56].

The Montreal Jewish Public Library has put back on the shelves all the books by children's author Élise Gravel, following a press release that emphasizes the library's commitment to access to knowledge and ideas. The books, including 'Welcome to the monster shop,' are now available in the library's youth corner. However, in the library's digital catalog, the books are still listed as being located behind closed stacks. The library has stated that it welcomes opinions and comments from the public and that the existence of a particular point of view does not imply endorsement. Élise Gravel expressed relief and no ill will towards the library, understanding the context that led to the initial decision to remove her books. The decision to remove the books was made by the library's former director, Alain Dancyger, due to the sensitivities surrounding the author's position on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The removal of Gravel's books was criticized as an act of censorship by the Association of Public Libraries of Quebec and seen as an attack on freedom of expression by the National Association of Book Publishers. The Union of Quebec Writers linked the gesture to a worrying trend towards censorship. The Montreal Jewish Public Library is hosting a special evening during Freedom of Expression Week to discuss censorship and banned books, which may include a discussion on Gravel's books. [7b074919]

Grace Linn, a 101-year-old woman, protested against the Martin County School Board for banning 84 books. The ban was implemented to comply with a Florida Department of Education directive as part of the implementation of House Bill 1467. Linn compared banning books to burning books, stating that both are done out of fear of knowledge. She believes that society can't grow and evolve without the free exchange of thoughts shared through books. Linn's husband fought for the constitutional right to write and read books during World War II. Linn has been featured on The View, Ali Velshi's Banned Book Club, and in the documentary The ABCs of Book Banning. She believes that no one person or group should decide what is available for people to read. Linn's fight against book banning has been praised by author Jodi Picoult, whose books were banned by the Martin County School Board. Linn has created two banned books quilts and a banner listing the banned books in Martin County. She believes that books should be read, displayed, and protected, not banned or feared.