Illinois Secretary of State Insists ‘Concept and Practice of Banning Books Contradicts’ Founding Ideas of US

The Secretary of State for Illinois labeled the "concept and practice of banning books" as being a contradiction of what the United States stands for and goes against the founding principles.

Sec. Alexi Giannoulias (D-Ill.) testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee, advocating against book bans and defending HB2789, which prevents books from being banned in the state. In June, Gov. Jay Robert Pritzker (D-Ill.) and Lt. Gov. Juliana Stratton (D-Ill.) signed legislation making Illinois the first state to ban book bans.

"This legislation is important, because both the concept and practice of banning books contradicts the very essence of what our country stands for and what our democracy was founded on," Giannoulias said. "It also defies what education is all about, teaching our children to think for themselves."

https://twitter.com/Giannoulias/status/1701620330488328554

Giannoulias explained that the legislation "is a triumph for our democracy, a win for First Amendment rights, and most importantly a great victory for future generations to come."

"Under this legislation, Illinois libraries will not be eligible for state-funded grants if they ban books," Giannoulias explained.

The topic of book bans has become a heated subject across the country as parents have brought up how certain books containing sexual content in school libraries may not be suitable for children.

Most recently, Republican Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey wrote a letter to the Alabama Public Library Service demanding answers regarding "sexually suggestive" books in the children's section.

Democratic politicians such as Maryland Gov. Wes Moore have expressed opposition against book bans, meanwhile, California Gov. Gavin Newsom is reportedly gearing up to sign legislation that would limit which books schools can remove from library shelves.