Lawsuit filed to fight Arkansas book ban law and protect librarians' rights.
A coalition of publishers, booksellers, librarians and readers filed a lawsuit against the Arkansas state government over a book ban law set to go into effect in August. The plaintiffs argue the new law is illegal because it is a direct attack on free speech guaranteed by the first and 14th amendments to the US constitution. The law will subject librarians to criminal charges if they are found to have furnished any item deemed “harmful to minors”. Proponents of the new law say it will protect children from “indoctrination” and shield them from issues surrounding the teaching of race and racism in US history, sexual orientation and gender identity.