Censorship of books is not a new phenomenon in the United States, but it has experienced an upsurge since the arrival of the Trump administration.
Various institutions, including military and school libraries, are increasingly targeted by restrictions. These are targeting books addressing subjects such as diversity, equity and inclusion.
A restriction policy within military libraries
All the Libraries of the American Army and the Air Force have been ordered to review their collections.
These lists are to be handed over on April 30. The objective is to identify and possibly withdraw works related to certain themes considered to be controversial.
-The effective withdrawal of these works is still under discussion. However, the establishment of such guidelines raises questions about the impact of this censorship on intellectual diversity and the right to information.
Students file a complaint
On the Pentagon side, the defense secretary, Pete Hegseth is prosecuted. Reason, the prohibitions of books he has established in order to remove libraries from the works on the breed and the genre.
Several students decided to bring the case to justice. They denounce a violation of their fundamental rights guaranteed by the first amendment. This legal action aims to defend free access to knowledge and to prevent any form of censorship deemed arbitrary.
The consequences of censorship
Limiting access to certain works could have lasting consequences on education and understanding of societal issues.
By restricting access to works dealing with race, gender and equal opportunities, these measures may impoverish the critical reflection of new generations.
The rise of books in the United States worries many defenders of fundamental freedoms.
While the debates on these prohibitions finally arouse reactions, it is essential to preserve access to diversified and inclusive knowledge.
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