Inside the two-year fight to bring charges against school librarians in Granbury, Texas

NBC News, By Mike Hixenbaugh, Tyler Kingkade, Scott Friedman and Eva Parks, on July 23, 2024

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/school-librarians-banned-books-investigation-texas-rcna161444

In a saga reminiscent of the Keystone Cops, a two-year pursuit of felony charges against school librarians in Granbury, Texas, unfolded like a farcical mission gone awry. Right-wing extremist Scott London embarked on a vendetta, pouring over stacks of literature while sporting a body cam to capture his quest to persecute—er, prosecute—three school librarians. Their alleged crime? Allowing minors to check out books deemed obscene. Despite subpoenas and dramatic investigative theatrics, the case ultimately fizzled when the district attorney declined to indict, citing insufficient evidence.

Scott London's mission to stop kids from reading books he deemed inappropriate was both absurd and alarming. The details of his crusade, covered by NBC News through the reporting of Mike Hixenbaugh, Tyler Kingkade, Scott Freeman, and Nia Parks on July 23, 2024, reveal a tale of overreach and misplaced zeal.

The debate over who should decide which books belong in schools or libraries was reignited by this case. Cindy, a commentator on the issue, argued that self-righteous individuals like London, who have nothing better to do than invade privacy and push their own beliefs, should not make such decisions. Instead, she suggested that the Ministry of Education, funded and managed at the federal level, should handle these matters to ensure uniformity and fairness across states.

London's antics included gathering a list of children who had checked out the contentious books, ironically in the name of creating a safe environment for them. His efforts highlight a broader issue: a segment of the population views education and access to diverse ideas as threats. This mindset, according to Cindy, stems from discomfort with topics like gender and homosexuality, which London finds "icky" and thus seeks to ban from public discourse.

Eli, another commentator, emphasized that banning books only makes them more appealing to children. If a book is removed from a library, kids will find ways to access it, often through other means like purchasing it online. This approach does nothing to stop children from reading the material and instead punishes educators and librarians who aim to provide a comprehensive education.

The discussion also touched on the racial aspects of book banning. Books by and about people of color are frequently targeted, reflecting a discomfort with confronting historical and contemporary issues of race in America. Cindy noted that the shame associated with America's racist past leads to an avoidance of these topics, resulting in efforts to erase them from educational materials.

The case of Scott London's failed prosecution of librarians in Granbury, Texas, serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing battle over educational content and the dangers of allowing personal biases to dictate public policy. It also underscores the need for a more mature and equitable approach to managing school libraries and the materials they offer to students. 

The Non-Prophets, Episode 23.31.2 featuring Infidel64, Cindy Plaza, Eli Slack and Kelley Laughlin

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