Arkansas Judge Blocks Librarians From Being Charged
TimeAug 09, 2023
The Facts
On Saturday, US District Judge Timothy L. Brooks issued a preliminary injunction to stall Arkansas from enforcing a law that would allow librarians and booksellers to face criminal charges for providing materials deemed harmful to minors.
The law, which was scheduled to take effect Aug. 1, was signed by Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders earlier this year.
The Spin
Republican narrative
In the face of woke Democrats increasingly attempting to expose children to inappropriate materials in schools, libraries, and bookstores, parents have been activated to step in and protect their kids from filth and other indoctrination. This law, which would build on existing statutes to make sure there would be no loopholes for those who would subject children to sexually explicit and graphic materials, is worth fighting for in the courts.
Democratic narrative
Republicans are on a censorship binge across the country, and blocking this law from taking effect is just a small step in preserving the First Amendment rights of teachers, librarians, and booksellers. This law and others like it are meant to prevent kids from learning about LGBTQ+ issues and the history of race in the US, but Republicans shouldn’t be allowed to foster ignorance behind claims that they’re defending decency.