TELL LAWMAKERS: Protect the Freedom to Read!

Act Now

We all support students' freedom to read, think, and learn. Censorship and discriminatory book bans in schools are against our values as Oregonians. They prevent students from learning about the history, experiences, and viewpoints of all communities.

The majority of voters and parents oppose book bans, but schools are unfortunately facing more pushback than ever. Recently, Oregon has faced the most challenges to school and library books in state history. Additionally, consistent with national trends, the books under attack in Oregon are often by or about people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ people.

These discriminatory attempts to ban books are coming at a time when anti-democracy politicians and their billionaire supporters are aggressively attacking important diversity, equity, and inclusion values. However, feedback from students demonstrates that diversity, equity, and inclusion values and programs are still very needed. For example, in recent years, 49% of Oregon 8th graders said they experienced discrimination at least weekly, with this percentage jumping to 66% for Indigenous students; and only 47% of LGBTQ+ students in Oregon felt welcome at school.

The ACLU is protecting Oregon values! We are in a coalition supporting SB 1098, which, thanks to your help, passed the bill out of the Oregon State Senate! The bill prohibits discriminatory book bans and other forms of censorship in Oregon public schools if the ban or censorship constitutes discrimination based on race, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other protected statuses.

Now, we need your help to pass SB 1098 through the Oregon State House of Representatives. Tell your Representative to protect Oregon's students from extremist and fascist book bans.

By filling out the form below, you can submit your own remarks which will be messaged to lawmakers. This also serves as consent to upload our template language as a public testimony to the committee record on your behalf. When filling out your contact information, please know that your first and last name and city will be made public by the State of Oregon via its public OLIS website, but the remainder of your contact information will not.

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Your Message

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Subject

Dear Legislator,

I’m calling on you to support SB 1098 to prevent discriminatory book bans and protect the freedom to read!

Freedom and fairness are Oregon values, and that means the freedom to read, think, and learn. Censoring ideas through discriminatory book bans goes against what we believe as a state.

Oregon can’t wait any longer to take action. In recent years, our state has suffered more challenges than ever before to school and library books. Just like we have seen across the country, these books are often by or about people of color, women, and LGBTQ+ people.

Message Body

SB 1098 prohibits discriminatory book bans and censorship in Oregon public schools based on race, sex, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, and other protected statuses. The time has come for the Legislature to take action and protect students’ freedom to read, think, and learn!

Thank you so much for your time.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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TELL LAWMAKERS: Protect the Freedom to Read!

Act Now

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