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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
World
Richard Luscombe

US libraries face ‘unprecedented’ efforts to ban books on race and gender themes

Amanda Darrow of the Utah Pride Center, poses with books that have been the subject of complaints from parents, in December 2021 in Salt Lake City.
Amanda Darrow of the Utah Pride Center, poses with books that have been the subject of complaints from parents, in December 2021 in Salt Lake City. Photograph: Rick Bowmer/AP

Books for children and young adults containing themes of race, gender and sexual identity received an “unprecedented” number of challenges last year, the American Library Association (ALA) has said, reflecting a growing national trend of attempted censorship.

The challenges came from conservative parent groups and others. In some cases, the group says, librarians and elected officials were threatened with violence by members of the Proud Boys and armed activists at school board and library board meetings.

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