Don’t Mess With Librarians

#Spotsylvania librarian: “If you have a worldview that can be undone by a novel, let me suggest that the problem is not the novel.” #bannedbooks

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

They will fuck you up.

#Spotsylvania librarian to Twigg & Abuismail: “You have labeled books you have no knowledge of and placed shame upon them. You have no right to judge anyone or what they read.”#bannedbooks

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

And more from that infamous school board in Virginia:

#Spotsylvania parent to Abuismail: “You seem to think sitting [on the School Board] is an achievement. It is an honor and a privilege and with that comes great responsibility. You are elected to represent us and you should do it with dignity and character.”

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

#Spotsylvania student to School Board: “If you are scared of a community you are supposed to represent, this is not the job for you.”#bannedbooks

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

#Spotsylvania teacher: “Parents & community members, keep in mind that your students’ teachers are not your enemies. We’re working to make sure your children have the education they deserve. We’re not seeking to undo what you’re teaching them at home.” #bannedbooks

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

#Spotsylvania high school student: “Any attempt to censor, no matter how small, is contagious and leads to much worse.” #bannedbooks

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

#Spotsylvania librarian to School Board: “I promise my students that I will defend their right to read, so here I am fulfilling that process. You must honor the policy that protects our students’ right to read. It’s not debatable.” #bannedbooks

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

#Spotsylvania English teacher to School Board: “Once you politicized this office, you created an adversarial relationship between parents and teachers. You are here to serve the interests of the students.”

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

Speaker: “I believe information is power and raising informed citizens is patriotic.” #spotsylvania #books

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

#Spotsylvania teacher to school board: “Please explain to my kids, both biological and in the classroom, why you think you have the power to limit their freedom of choice.”

— Adele Uphaus-Conner (@flsadele) November 16, 2021

I don't think the takeover of school boards is going quite as smoothly as Steve Bannon expected. I also expect we're going to see more of this, not less.

Let these students, teachers, parents, and librarians be an example to us all, to fight for what we have lest it be taken from us by our indifference and inattention.