PEN America Calls Missouri Law Canceling School Library Books ‘Slippery Slope’

(MISSOURINET) –  A report from a national organization says Missouri schools have banned nearly 300 books since August because of a new law. Senate Bill 775 makes providing “explicit sexual material” to students a class A misdemeanor, punishable by a penalty of up to one year in jail and a two-thousand-dollar fine. Jonathan Friedman (freed-men), with PEN America, which works to defend free expression, says schools should give an honest education about history.

According to Pen America, other books pulled include classics like Shakespeare and Mark Twain, a graphic novel of The Gettysburg Address, The Children’s Bible, X-Men, and Batman. State Senator Rick Brattin, who sponsored the language in the law, says “We’ve seen this disgusting and inappropriate content making its way into our classrooms and libraries.”