Celebrate the Freedom to Read during Banned Books Week – Sept. 24-Oct. 1

From The ACLU:

HELENA, MT —Almost since Montana’s beginnings people have been trying to control what we read. Books have been targeted for being too violent, too insulting, too sexy or just plain too dangerous.

In 1902 Butte banned “The Story of Mary MacLane by Herself” as morally corrupt and insulting to Butte and its citizens.

During WWI Montana banned, and some towns even burned, German books as part of the Sedition Act.

Just last year, a parent challenged the use of Newberry Award-winning book “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” in Helena Public Schools’ curriculum. The ACLU of Montana was there, as were more than 100 supporters of intellectual freedom who successfully fought for the novel’s retention.

The ACLU takes a strong stance for the First Amendment and everyone’s right to read what they choose.

Celebrate Banned Books Week, Sept. 24-Oct. 1 by learning more about book banning, finding out what you can do to protect intellectual freedom, reading a banned book or attending a Banned Books Week event near you hosted by the ACLU or Montana or the Montana Library Association’s Intellectual Freedom Committee.