Book bans in the United States aren’t something particularly new. However, the conversation regarding banning books in schools and libraries has grown increasingly since 2021. In the past year alone, 6,870 books have been banned, an increase of 4,338 from 2031. At the forefront of this fight to ban books in the United States is the ultra-conservative parents’ rights organization, Moms for Liberty. Common themes of these banned books include sexual content or language, LGBTQ+ themes, racial content including how slavery, racism, and Black history are portrayed, as well as violence, drug use, and anti-religious content round out the common objections. 

Moms for Liberty is a parents’ rights organization founded in 2021 that originally fought mask mandates in schools. Since then, they have moved towards book bans, stating that “Parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing of their children. This includes their education.” Many of these controversial books openly speak about LGBTQ+ issues, race, or topics deemed “lewd”. Since 2021, Moms for Liberty has grown to 285 chapters in 45 states, greatly influencing censorship seen in schools across the country. PEN America’s report found that 81% of all of the school districts in the US that have enacted book bans are in or adjacent to a county where there is an active chapter of at least one of these groups. While Moms for Liberty tout themselves as an organization for parents’ rights to better improve the protection of their kids, especially in educational settings, the SPLC included them in its annual Year in Hate & Extremism report for 2022, saying that it advances an anti-student inclusion agenda. Even though the group may fall into extremist categories, the group is still growing, its censorship agenda still making waves across the country. 

For their agenda to spread, the Moms for Liberty have used many different persuasion and propaganda techniques to further their agendas. They have leaned into “The Big Lie”, a propaganda technique dependent on an outrageous enough lie that is unbelievable yet appeals strongly to the prejudices of the listeners and is stated in as bland and matter-of-fact terms as possible. Moms of Liberty have utilized this technique in their campaign for book bans, especially when it comes to LGBTQ+ books, using provocative rhetoric about “porn in schools” and “indoctrination.” These advocacy groups have stoked public anxiety regarding the types of books students can access in classrooms and school libraries. Moms for Liberty commonly propagates conspiracy theories about public schools attempting to indoctrinate and sexualize children with a progressive Marxist curriculum. This language misrepresents the actual content of most challenged books, focusing on a select few to push a larger agenda by utilizing parent’s well meaning fears and concerns. 

Another tool used to push these theories to further book bans is Celebrity endorsements. As we read in class, the use of Celebrities as well as expert testimonies can be incredibly influential when it comes to persuasive materials. Moms for Liberty has leaned into their connections, gaining the stamp of approval from high-ranking right-wing politicians, such as Governor Ron DeSantis, Nikki Haley, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Donald Trump. These endorsements are incredibly influential, not just when it comes to public support for the group, but when it comes to legislative power in schools as well. These endorsements also play into the persuasive tactic of Denial. While many have concerns regarding the book bans rapidly growing across the country, many conservative leaders deny the legitimacy of the bans. The Department of Education even called book bans a “hoax”, parroting language from endorser Ron DeSantis. 

The issue of book bans in the United States is far from over, PEN stating that “the magnified number of book ban instances in these states is largely due to pressure campaigns by censorship-minded groups and individuals in local districts coupled with emerging state legislation.” Book bans have become increasingly normalized, much to the detriment of the students these groups are claiming to protect. It’s led to a decrease in students’ engagement in reading, discourages students’ critical thinking, and interferes with a teacher’s ability to teach.  According to a poll, only 7% of parents believe books should be removed at the objection of a single parent, but this does little to stop the banning of books across the country. These ideas aren’t being held by the general public, even though that is how Moms for Liberty would like it to be portrayed. An analysis connected 66% of over 1,000 challenges to just 11 individuals. Even so, it seems that the problem will only continue to grow in the United States as anti-inclusionary language and behavior grows countrywide, affecting students and teachers alike, unfortunately for worse.