![A ban of 13 books across all Utah public schools has now taken effect as free speech advocates warn of the repercussions.](https://san.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/CLEAN-APImagesUtahBookBan_AP-Images_featuredImage_Fri-Aug-09-2024.jpg?w=1920)
Utah bans 13 books from all public schools as censorship debate continues
By Karah Rucker (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Jake Maslo (Video Editor)
The Utah State Board of Education said on Friday, Aug. 9, that it has been required by law to ban 13 books from all public schools under a new rule that went into effect on July 1. Critics said that it’s the first statewide ban of books. The rule requires books to be removed when at least three school districts among the more than 40 in the state say that a book has pornographic or indecent material.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Advocates react to Utah ban of 13 books in schools and libraries: ‘It’s a tragedy’
Click to see story on The GuardianUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Coast ReporterUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Flin Flon ReminderUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain OutlookUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 6 PhiladelphiaUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 13 HoustonUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc11 RaleighUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 7 NewsUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc30 NewsUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Prince George CitizenUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ series, under new law
Click to see story on NBC Dallas-Fort WorthIt’s official: These 13 books are now banned from all public schools in Utah
Click to see story on Salt Lake TribuneUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Virginian PilotUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Orlando SentinelUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Delaware County Daily TimesUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on KIFIUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on WPLGUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on WKMGUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Pioneer PressUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 7 ChicagoUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 7 LAUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 7 NYUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on KOB 4Utah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on WCBDUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Sun (Lowell)Utah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on East Idaho NewsUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Daily FreemanUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Chico Enterprise-RecordUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Sentinel-TribuneUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Santa Cruz SentinelUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Times-Standard‘A dark day’: Removal of 13 books from all public school libraries in Utah prompts strong reactions
Click to see story on St. George NewsLIST: 13 books officially banned from Utah schools
Click to see story on ABC 4Utah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The ReporterUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Daily Local NewsUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Red Bluff Daily News13 books removed from all public school libraries in Utah
Click to see story on KSLUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Pottstown MercuryUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Sentinel and EnterpriseUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Times HeraldBooks by Judy Blume, Sara J. Maas among 13 outlawed by Utah BOE in US’ first statewide books ban
Click to see story on New York PostUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on MY NorthwestUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Boston HeraldUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Winnipeg SunUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Daily PressRight
Untracked Bias
Utah bans several books in unique decision
Click to see story on Svenska DagbladetUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law – ABC Columbia
Click to see story on ABC ColumbiaThe novels of a dozen female authors, including Margaret Atwood, were banned by the
Click to see story on 24 HUUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Moose Jaw TodayUtah bans 13 books at schools via new law
Click to see story on Antelope Valley Press13 popular books banned from all Utah public schools
Click to see story on The Greenwood CommonwealthUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Nashoba Valley Voice‘A dark day’: Removal of 13 books from all public school libraries in Utah prompts strong reactions
Click to see story on cedarcityutah.comJudy Bloom and Margaret Atwood books to be removed from Utah school libraries
Click to see story on espreso.tvAmong the reading materials banned is the novel “A Court of Thorns and Roses” by Sarah J. Maas and books by Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood.
The state statute says that school boards and governing boards should prioritize “protecting children from the harmful effects of illicit pornography and other considerations.” The Utah State Board of Education said that it had no choice but to comply with the ban after it was brought forward.
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Utah is one of several states that are moving to restrict access to books. Tennessee, Idaho and South Carolina are reportedly putting state government in charge of access to reading materials in schools.
Proponents argue that such laws are needed to protect children from sensitive material without their parents present. Meanwhile, free speech advocates contend that it is a “dystopian censorship regime across public schools” and “antidemocratic.”
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Pen America, a free speech organization, tracks efforts to restrict books. Officials with the group said that it’s the first time they’ve seen a statewide ban on a list of books.
The books are still available at Utah public libraries.
[KARAH RUCKER]
ANOTHER FLASHPOINT IN THE DEBATE OVER BOOK CENSORSHIP IS TAKING HOLD IN UTAH.
THE STATE BANNING MORE THAN A DOZEN POPULAR BOOKS FROM ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS UNDER A NEW LAW IN WHAT CRITICS SAY IS THE FIRST STATE-WIDE BAN OF BOOKS.
THE RULE REQUIRES BOOKS TO BE REMOVED FROM ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS WHEN AT LEAST THREE SCHOOL DISTRICTS CLAIM THEY HAVE PORNOGRAPHIC OR INDECENT MATERIAL.
AMONG THOSE BANNED ARE THE NOVEL “A COURT OF THORNS AND ROSES” BY SARAH J. MAAS AND BOOKS BY JUDY BLUME AND MARGARET ATWOOD.
THE STATE STATUTE, WHICH WENT INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST, SAYS SCHOOL AND GOVERNING BOARDS SHOULD PRIORITIZE “PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM THE HARMFUL EFFECTS OF ILLICIT PORNOGRAPHY AND OTHER CONSIDERATIONS.”
THE UTAH STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION SAYS IT IS REQUIRED BY LAW TO COMPLY WITH THE DECISION.
UTAH IS ONE OF SEVERAL STATES MOVING TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO BOOKS.
TENNESSEE, IDAHO AND SOUTH CAROLINA ARE PUTTING STATE GOVERNMENT IN CHARGE OF ACCESS TO READING MATERIALS.
PROPONENTS SAY IT’S NEEDED TO PROTECT CHILDREN FROM SENSITIVE MATERIAL WITHOUT THEIR PARENTS PRESENT.
WHILE FREE SPEECH ADVOCATES CALLED IT “A DYSTOPIAN CENSORSHIP REGIME ACROSS PUBLICS SCHOOLS” AND “ANTI DEMOCRATIC.”
PEN AMERICA- A FREE SPEECH GROUP– TRACKS EFFORTS TO RESTRICT BOOKS.
OFFICIALS WITH THE ORGANIZATION SAY THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY’VE SEEN A STATE-WIDE BAN ON A LIST OF BOOKS.
FOR MORE ON THIS STORY AND MORE–
DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT SAN DOT COM.
FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M KARAH RUCKER.
Media Landscape
See who else is reporting on this story and which side of the political spectrum they lean. To read other sources, click on the plus signs below. Learn more about this dataBias Distribution
Left
Advocates react to Utah ban of 13 books in schools and libraries: ‘It’s a tragedy’
Click to see story on The GuardianUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Associated Press NewsUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Coast ReporterUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Flin Flon ReminderUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Rocky Mountain OutlookUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 6 PhiladelphiaUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 13 HoustonUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc11 RaleighUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 7 NewsUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc30 NewsUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Prince George CitizenUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular ‘A Court of Thorns and Roses’ series, under new law
Click to see story on NBC Dallas-Fort WorthIt’s official: These 13 books are now banned from all public schools in Utah
Click to see story on Salt Lake TribuneUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Virginian PilotUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Orlando SentinelUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Delaware County Daily TimesUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on KIFIUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on WPLGUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on WKMGUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Pioneer PressUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 7 ChicagoUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 7 LAUtah bans 13 books in public schools statewide, including Judy Blume and Margaret Atwood titles
Click to see story on abc 7 NYUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on KOB 4Utah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on WCBDUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Sun (Lowell)Utah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on East Idaho NewsUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Daily FreemanUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Chico Enterprise-RecordUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Sentinel-TribuneUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Santa Cruz SentinelUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Times-Standard‘A dark day’: Removal of 13 books from all public school libraries in Utah prompts strong reactions
Click to see story on St. George NewsLIST: 13 books officially banned from Utah schools
Click to see story on ABC 4Utah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The ReporterUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Daily Local NewsUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Red Bluff Daily News13 books removed from all public school libraries in Utah
Click to see story on KSLUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Pottstown MercuryUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Sentinel and EnterpriseUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on The Times HeraldBooks by Judy Blume, Sara J. Maas among 13 outlawed by Utah BOE in US’ first statewide books ban
Click to see story on New York PostUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on MY NorthwestUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Boston HeraldUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Winnipeg SunUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Daily PressRight
Untracked Bias
Utah bans several books in unique decision
Click to see story on Svenska DagbladetUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law – ABC Columbia
Click to see story on ABC ColumbiaThe novels of a dozen female authors, including Margaret Atwood, were banned by the
Click to see story on 24 HUUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Moose Jaw TodayUtah bans 13 books at schools via new law
Click to see story on Antelope Valley Press13 popular books banned from all Utah public schools
Click to see story on The Greenwood CommonwealthUtah bans 13 books at schools, including popular “A Court of Thorns and Roses” series, under new law
Click to see story on Nashoba Valley Voice‘A dark day’: Removal of 13 books from all public school libraries in Utah prompts strong reactions
Click to see story on cedarcityutah.comJudy Bloom and Margaret Atwood books to be removed from Utah school libraries
Click to see story on espreso.tvUnbiased news.
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