Illinois Gov Signs Bill Outlawing Book Bans By Libraries

Chicago’s ABC affiliate reports:

Governor JB Pritzker signed historic legislation Monday that would ban libraries from banning books. The law is the first of its kind in the nation, and would cut off funding to any libraries that remove books currently on the shelf.

The law was pushed by Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias, who is also the state’s librarian, and is a response to the backlash in many local school districts against controversial books, particularly some championed by the LBGTQ community.

“Book bans are about censorship, marginalizing people, marginalizing ideas and facts. Regimes ban books, not democracies,” Pritzker said.

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Governor JB Pritzker signed historic legislation Monday that would ban libraries from banning books. https://t.co/2zlFUVONWl

— ABC 7 Chicago (@ABC7Chicago) June 13, 2023