First, a new report by the American Library Association:
Texas made the most attempts to ban or restrict books in 2022, according to a new report from the American Library Association. Florida, South Carolina, Missouri and Utah weren’t far behind. Shirley Robinson of the Texas Library Association told the association: “Book challenges and censorship are nothing new. Libraries have faced these issues as long as libraries have been in existence. But the volume of challenges, and the vitriol against librarians, is unprecedented.
“Libraries are seeing multiple challenges, sometimes as many as 100, being brought forth. And often, people are not complaining about books they or their children have actually read; they are seeing books mentioned on the news or on social media and weighing in with complaints.” In total, 30 percent of all book censorship attempts were made by parents. Seventeen percent were made by political or religious groups.
From a post on Political Hotwire:
Missouri is not about to ban books statewide, the Legislature is highly dysfunctional and routinely struggles to move even ideas that are generally popular among Republicans through the process each session, despite holding GOP supermajorities. So it’s just as well that Sens. William Eigel and Nick Schroer, who each represent St. Louis exurbs that are increasingly ruby red, decide to hold this book burning.
Only they are now clarifying it’s not an actual book burning, since they’d have to purchase the books in question and they don’t want to do that, and yeah maybe they don’t want to be portrayed as doing exactly what the Nazis did either. So much so that, despite earlier declaring that this is a matter of destroying “naughty books” in effigy, they are now apparently saying that the burn is of the vague “liberal agenda.” Whatever that means.
Republican politicians in Missouri literally burning books with flamethrowers while chanting ‘Let’s Go Brandon’.
Don’t look away. They are coming for our democracy.
Out-organize, out-donate, out-register and out-vote these wannabe fascists.pic.twitter.com/JQlWPAslKR
— TrumpsTaxes (@TrumpsTaxes) September 18, 2023
Bill Eigel and Nick Schroer are State Senators. They’re burning books.
Is it normal for elected officials to act like Nazi thugs? Not usually, at least in America. So let’s just call Republicans what they are, okay?
Nazis. Thugs. https://t.co/JGZIOzOrFc
— Jane of the North (@JaneotN) September 17, 2023
Read your history books before these American Nazis burn them. The books will tell you that when people such as this light fires, the world descends into darkness. https://t.co/raybRfzYk4
— howardfineman (@howardfineman) September 18, 2023
The smell of fear is thick upon the leftists and swamp creatures that are fearful of the new Missouri we will deliver to the People in 2024.
Let’s Go Missouri!#mogov #letsgomo https://t.co/TzC5vrXW4x
— William Eigel (@BillEigel) September 17, 2023
No just preparing to take out the ghoulish liberal policies that have been haunting Missouri and possessing many Republican politicians.
“Who you gonna call? SWAMPBUSTERS” https://t.co/x0Cg1f9RjM
— Nick Schroer (@NickBSchroer) September 16, 2023
Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you the modern day leftwing troll. https://t.co/jekrfYJouy
— Nick Schroer (@NickBSchroer) September 18, 2023
Truly an honor to receive the highest award possible from @CPAC @ACUConservative, the Award for Conservative Excellence, for the top conservative rating! Congrats to all other award recipients #moleg pic.twitter.com/0SQ2PcvCUQ
— Nick Schroer (@NickBSchroer) June 22, 2023
Missouri State Senator Bill Eigel advocating stealing library books to burn them. Also, note that he wants to “punish” school districts that don’t conform to his way of thinking. This is real. This is the MO GOP. pic.twitter.com/Vzaq2xdaY3
— Jess Piper (@EnglishTeach07) November 25, 2021
After using flame throwers to torch empty boxes they pretended were full of LGBTQ themed books, Bill Eigel and Nick Schroer were so excited they made passionate love to each other. Wedding announcement coming soon.#LoveIsLove
pic.twitter.com/MBqFd24l4j
— Terry McGurrin (@standupmonkey) September 18, 2023
.@BillEigel deceived thousands of Trump supporters, tricking them into giving him money that they believed was going to @realDonaldTrump. I call on him to do the honorable thing and give that money to President Trump, as those donors intended.https://t.co/XbgXvm59Ds
— Jay Ashcroft (@JayAshcroftMO) September 12, 2023
I’ve been a champion on these issues, and I will continue to lead the charge as governor. A bold, conservative Missouri protects kids!
Go to https://t.co/Nh1C5MI0S2 and join Team Eigel today! pic.twitter.com/DTsthXYm6m
— William Eigel (@BillEigel) September 12, 2023