On Saturday, July 29, U.S. District Judge Timothy L. Brooks, the federal judge of Arkansas, temporarily blocked a law that made it illegal for librarians and book vendors to expose minors to books that are considered “harmful”. This action was supported by promoters of free speech who claim this law was stripping them of their freedom.
This law, Act 372, was supposed to take effect this Tuesday, but Brooks agreed with librarians and booksellers, claiming parts of the law are unconstitutional. This law could have violations of the first and fourteenth amendments. The state defined ‘harmful’, “as containing nudity or sexual content”(WP).
The plaintiffs argued that Act 372 could cause the removal of young adult content and could even ban everyone under the age of 18 from entering libraries and bookstores to avoid criminal charges. Exposing banned books to minors is “a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500”(WP). Brooks, agreeing with the plaintiffs, further argues that the state’s definition of ‘harmful’ to be very vague.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed this Act into law in March, making Arkansas the newest state to make it illegal to give minors books that are inappropriate. Regardless of the block, “The governor supports laws that protects kids from having access to obscene content”(CNN). Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and his office will continue to do their best to defend this law according to the Washington Post.
Seventeen-year-old plaintiff, Hayden Kirby, argues Act 372 will restrict her from freely accessing places she’s been able to her whole life. She then adds, “I want to fight for our rights to intellectual freedom and ensure that libraries remain spaces where young Arkansans
can explore diverse perspectives”(WP).
This law, Act 372, was supposed to take effect this Tuesday, but Brooks agreed with librarians and booksellers, claiming parts of the law are unconstitutional. This law could have violations of the first and fourteenth amendments. The state defined ‘harmful’, “as containing nudity or sexual content”(WP).
The plaintiffs argued that Act 372 could cause the removal of young adult content and could even ban everyone under the age of 18 from entering libraries and bookstores to avoid criminal charges. Exposing banned books to minors is “a class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a fine of up to $2,500”(WP). Brooks, agreeing with the plaintiffs, further argues that the state’s definition of ‘harmful’ to be very vague.
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed this Act into law in March, making Arkansas the newest state to make it illegal to give minors books that are inappropriate. Regardless of the block, “The governor supports laws that protects kids from having access to obscene content”(CNN). Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin and his office will continue to do their best to defend this law according to the Washington Post.
Seventeen-year-old plaintiff, Hayden Kirby, argues Act 372 will restrict her from freely accessing places she’s been able to her whole life. She then adds, “I want to fight for our rights to intellectual freedom and ensure that libraries remain spaces where young Arkansans
can explore diverse perspectives”(WP).