Florida Free Speech Victory A US District Court in Florida has sided with publishers and authors in Penguin Random House v. Gibson, upholding the freedom to read and challenging key provisions of Florida House Bill 1069, which facilitates book removals from public school libraries, as reported by Publishers Weekly. Judge Carlos E. Mendoza ruled that the statute's prohibition of material describing sexual content is overbroad and unconstitutional, emphasizing that censorship through book removals, especially without considering a work's overall value, does not constitute government speech and stifles disfavored viewpoints. This decision sets a significant precedent against book banning efforts, reinforcing the First Amendment's application in school libraries and defining âpornographicâ materials as those âharmful to minors.â Sale on ABFE Merch! Want to carry American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) merchandise in your store? Check out abfestore.org to order ABFE hoodies, shirts, hats, and temporary tattoos for your store, yourself, or your staff! Purchases of 5 or more items will receive a 30% wholesale discount! (This promotion does not include tote bags and temporary tattoos.) All proceeds from Free Expression merch benefit ABFE. Order by September 1 to receive your purchase in time for Banned Books Week. Fall Fly-In Booksellers are encouraged to join us in Washington, DC, on October 7, for a fly-in to advocate on behalf of the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA), which would introduce competition into the credit card processing market and lower fees. To sign up or learn more, email [email protected]. |
