Conservative groups around the country have been increasingly bold in banning books that they do not like within libraries and schools. Often those pushing book bans claim they are protecting children from dangerous reading materials.
Now, Amanda Jones, a Louisiana-based middle-school librarian who became the target of vicious death threats and harassment by a right-wing book-banning campaign, has decided to fight back. Not only has she sued her opponents, she has also written a tell-all book about her battle against the book banners called That Librarian.
Jones has been an educator for 22 years and is the president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians, co-founder of the Livingston Parish Library Alliance to defeat censorship attempts in her community, and a founding member of the Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, which fights against censorship efforts across the state. She spoke with YES! Senior Editor Sonali Kolhatkar on YES! Presents: Rising Up With Sonali about her new book.