, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday showed a series of sexually explicit books that he said were in school libraries across the state before they were banned.
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He said some of the books were found in schools in Volusia, Marion, Seminole, Orange and Lake counties.
However, a group that gathered at Lake Eola said the issues is bigger than removing “pornographic” material, and they believe that laws now being used to screen books and instruction are being used to target certain groups.
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The governor said their concerns aren’t founded in facts. However, the group is not backing down, saying books are indeed being banned and removed from the shelves to target groups like the LGBTQ+ community as well as the Black community.
The issue brought out author Lavon Bracy.
“I think right now people are afraid to have any kind of books related to blackness because we don’t know if it will be banned,” Bracy said.
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In Florida, school districts must decide what’s appropriate. A law passed last year said all books must now be reviewed by a specialist, and parents can object.
The governor’s office responded, saying in part, “there are no books banned in Florida. Any adult can buy any publication they want.”
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