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The right-wing speedrun of wrecking the US continues to speed up. (hexbear.net)

submitted 7 months ago by InevitableSwing@hexbear.net to c/chapotraphouse@hexbear.net

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Louisiana HB 777 Would Criminalize Librarians and Libraries Who Join the American Library Association

Despite the fact that librarians are among the most trusted professionals, per data acquired in several studies of parents on the perceptions of the profession, lawmakers across the country continue to infantilize and criminalize library workers.

[...]

Louisiana continues these efforts in an ongoing move by politicians in the state to damage public libraries with House Bill 777. HB 777 was introduced March 25 by Representative Kellee Dickerson, who helped fund the Louisiana Freedom Caucus. The bill would criminalize library workers and libraries for joining the American Library Association.

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[-] Tabitha@hexbear.net 33 points 7 months ago

literally ~~1984~~ Fahrenheit 451

[-] EllenKelly@hexbear.net 17 points 7 months ago

the 1956 film Storm Centre is about a city trying to force a librarian to remove communist books, it's on youtube if anyone's interested

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=033KVFJw_OU

I enjoyed it enough to accidentally watch the whole thing a few years ago, but I think it ends with a bit of a 'people should be able to read the commie books so they know they're wrong'

the point is this culture war shit never changes

[-] Tabitha@hexbear.net 28 points 7 months ago

ok but why

[-] WhatDoYouMeanPodcast@hexbear.net 31 points 7 months ago

Did a little dive into library lore and the woman at the top of the ALA in 2023 (not to be confused by the current head of the ALA, Cindy Hohl), Emily Drabinski, and it looks like it comes back to queerohobia every time. She's written about LGBT and is married to a woman.

I think this is the main point

It begins with claims that public libraries are full of pornography. With claims that public librarians are “groomers” or “pedophiles” for having books by or about LGBTQ+ people or for hosting events that celebrate diversity.

So the ALA would be characterized as professional pervert training. Their hate must include distaste for anyone who questions their identity or else it sounds as ridiculous as it does to you.

[-] Rojo27@hexbear.net 24 points 7 months ago

Something, something woke. Something, something destroying American values. You know, something.

[-] pumpchilienthusiast@hexbear.net 11 points 7 months ago

because they can

[-] context@hexbear.net 26 points 7 months ago

maybe-later-honey uhm actually that would be unconstitutional because it violates librarians' right to free association

[-] came_apart_at_Kmart@hexbear.net 17 points 7 months ago

i dunno if it's still true, but there was a time not long ago where Louisiana held the distinction of having the highest rate of incarceration per capita of any state in the US. as the US already holds the title for highest rate of incarceration in the US, this means Louisiana was the turd at the top of the clogged toilet that is Carceral America.