The 33 libraries in the San Diego County system will display books that have been challenged and banned in other states in support of national Banned Books Week.
Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer proposed the policy, which passed on a 3-2 vote this week.
“We took another important step today to protect the rights of San Diegans,” said Lawson-Remer on Tuesday. “Right-wing, conservative extremists and politicians are trying to suppress certain viewpoints and limit access to information, but we’re not going to let that happen in San Diego County.”
Supervisors Nora Vargas and Monica Montgomery Steppe supported Lawson-Remer’s policy, while Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond voted against it.
“To my colleagues who voted in favor of these racist and bigoted book bannings, shame on you!” Lawson-Remer said.
Desmond tweeted later in the week that there are no banned books in California and cautioned that libraries must restrict access by minors to some books and videos.
Book bans are rising in the United States, with the American Library Association reporting that last year 4,240 book titles were targeted for censorship nationwide. Many of the books challenged have LGBTQ themes.
Banned Books Week, which has been recognized since 1982, is scheduled for Sept. 22-28 this year.
