1. United States
2. Va.
3. Letter

I write to oppose House Resolution 2616, The "Stopping Indoctrination and Protecting Kids" Act, and all related legislation aiming to damage kids' education opportunities by blocking their access to books. A misleading name does not change what this bill is: an exercise in discrimination and prejudice. I stand with many other authors, editors, and educators in support of the availability of diverse stories on library shelves and the freedom for every child to exercise their right to read. This and other book bans target marginalized communities and are blatant violations of the First Amendment. They are also based on false premises. Trust librarians and educators to assess the collections in their libraries. They know how to do their jobs. They will not put inappropriate material where kids can access it -- and they also will not block kids from learning about themselves and the world by restricting access to material that is entirely age-appropriate but controversial to certain close-minded adults. Take action against book bans.