Books Banned from American Schools, Hollywood Mobilizes Against Ban “progender” and Bipoc content (Black, Indigenous and People of Color). I 175 celebrities – among actors, musicians and models – who signed a letter asking the star system to fight the bans: “Restrictive behavior contrary to freedom of speech and expression.”
Among the signatories are such VIPs as Ariana Grande, Guillermo del Toro, Sharon Stone and Mark Ruffalobut also a poetess Amanda Gorman whose popularity soared at Biden’s inauguration ceremony. The target of the protest was the new “index of banned books” in Florida: 50 volumes which, according to Gov. Ron DeSantis, “include taboo topics and indoctrinate children.” It’s me black rights and pro-gender themes.
LeVar Burton: “Dangerous”
“AND embarrassing that books are currently banned in this country, in this culture. And it’s dangerous when a handful of people decide that any book about black and queer people is divisive,” he explained. LeVar Burtonpresenter of the children’s TV show “Reading the Rainbow”, the first to sign the appeal. “We ask everyone to join us and raise our voices,” he added, “for support creative freedomembrace multicultural history and end the book ban once and for all.”
Letter: how the initiative was born
After the restrictions introduced last year school books and Florida’s new position, there are concerns of sorts”restrictive effectcaused by prohibitions. With cascading consequences “in all creative fields” The letter was published LeVar Burton, host of the children’s television program “Reading Rainbow”. Burton is known to the general public for his role as Kunta Kinte in the cult miniseries Roots (1977) and for his role as Geordi La Forge in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Who are the 175 signatories?
The letter was published on Tuesday by the organization.MoveOn Political Actions‘, and in a short time it has already reached more than 175 participants. Not only are actors and dignitaries mentioned here, but also authors, media personalities, academics, and human rights and civil rights activists are mentioned. Also among the signatories are Idina Menzel, Gabrielle Union, Abigail Disney, Andy Cohen, Judd Apatow, Judy Blume, Margaret Atwood, Padma Lakshmi, Ron Perlman and Sharon Stone.
Will censorship expand?
“We can’t stress this enough censorship efforts will not stop with a ban on books,” the letter says. “It’s only a matter of time before he regressive ideologues and repressive people shift their attention to others forms of art and entertainmentto continue their attacks and attempts to scapegoat marginalized communities, especially BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people“
Message: “A threat to everyone”
“There we refuse to remain silent – write 175 signatories of the appeal – while the creative sphere is subject to repressive bans,” the letter continues. “As artists, we must unite because the threat to the art form is a threat to us all” The signatories of the appeal ask for support for expanding the protest front in order to “reject these bans on books and support creative industries freely and openly, regardless of personal or ideological differences, and use your local voice to stop these bans in their school districts.” Bans cannot stop art. “There is power in creative freedom, and we don’t let draconian politicians take it away,” the stars conclude.