Publishers and Authors Sue Florida Over Book Ban Law

Several major book publishers, including Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster, have filed a lawsuit against Florida over a law that allows schools to ban certain books from their libraries. The publishers argue that this law violates the First Amendment, which protects free speech.

The lawsuit mentions books by famous authors like Maya Angelou and Ernest Hemingway that have been removed from school libraries due to the law. Florida officials, however, claim that the state hasn’t banned any books, stating that only material considered sexually explicit or inappropriate for certain ages has been restricted.

The law, passed last year, requires schools to let parents challenge books in libraries or classrooms. It defines removable books as those that describe sexual content or are unsuitable for the students’ age group.

According to Pen America, a free speech advocacy group, Florida had the most book bans in the country, with 3,135 bans recorded between July 2021 and December 2023. Most banned books discuss LGBTQ+ identities, race, racism, or sexual experiences.

Books like “For Whom the Bell Tolls” by Ernest Hemingway, “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, and “Anna Karenina” by Leo Tolstoy have been removed. Authors like John Green and Jodi Picoult, along with some parents, have joined the lawsuit.

The lawsuit claims that the law lets schools ban books without consulting experts like teachers or media specialists. It also criticizes the law for leading to broad censorship in schools, with some books banned just for including phrases like “made love” without considering the full context.

Judi Hayes, a Florida mother involved in the lawsuit, said the law has harmed her son’s education. The lawsuit seeks changes to the law.

The lawsuit names several officials, including Ben Gibson, chair of the Florida State Board of Education, but not Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who supported the law. In April, DeSantis signed a bill limiting book objections in schools, aiming to prevent misuse by activists.