Stop the Book Purge in South Carolina

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A statewide book purge is on the horizon. South Carolina lawmakers are considering a regulation (R. 43-170) written by Ellen Weaver's Department of Education that would enable mass censorship of books in school classrooms and libraries.

This regulation is being promoted by extremists in groups like Moms for Liberty and would allow book banners to appeal local book decisions to the State Board. It would also set a statewide policy banning books that contain descriptions of "sexual conduct" and "excretory functions," ranging from classics to 20th-century masterpieces to contemporary Young Adult novels. A similar policy in Iowa has already led to the removal of books including 1984, Native Son, and The Color Purple from schools.

Simply put, this is a book purge policy that supersedes the rights of parents, and we have the opportunity to stop it before it becomes law.

"Stop the Book Purge" in red and blue text over a torn sheet of paper

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I am writing in opposition to proposed Regulation 43-170 (presented to your committee as Document 5269), a policy that would undermine parental rights and harm public education by throwing open the floodgates for mass book bans. Any parent has the right to opt out their own children from reading specific books in classrooms and school libraries, but one parent does not have the right to make those decisions for everyone else's children.

Over the past year, pro-censorship organizations have tried banning books in bulk via local school boards, but they have largely been thwarted when districts listened to parents, teachers, and librarians who had read books in their entirety. The proposed policy, as written, would encourage self-appointed censors to impose their beliefs on all South Carolinians.

The proposed regulation is overly broad. It would lead to the banning of any book containing a description of "sexual conduct." A similar law passed in 2023 in Iowa, Senate File 496, led to the removal of hundreds of books including 1984, Native Son, and The Color Purple from schools until a federal judge blocked enforcement on constitutional grounds.

It's obvious to anyone watching what the end goal of Regulation 43-170 is: A mass purge of books led by extreme political activists. Whatever safeguards you put in place, they will use this policy to ban books that don't conform to their worldview. I ask you to stop this policy before it wreaks havoc in our schools.

Sincerely,

[First Name] [Last Name]

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Stop the Book Purge in South Carolina

Act Now

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