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Council Member Cabán introduces resolution against book bans and censorship
1:22:55
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71 sec
Council Member Tiffany Cabán introduces a resolution co-sponsored with Council Member Abreu to oppose book bans and censorship in schools and libraries. She emphasizes the importance of defending the freedom to read and inclusive democracy in New York City, particularly in response to actions taken in other states.
- The resolution specifically targets recent efforts in Florida and other places to censor educational materials and change curricula.
- Cabán highlights NYC libraries' efforts to provide free digital library cards nationwide to circumvent book bans.
- She urges her colleagues to support Resolution 727, which aims to defend the rights of queer New Yorkers and New Yorkers of color.
Tiffany Cabán
1:22:55
Thank you.
1:22:56
If you've been following the news closely, you probably know that in Florida and other places run by right wing bigots, including some places in New York State, those in power are sending big government censors into schools and libraries to strip people of their freedom to read.
1:23:10
That includes not just banning books, but also changing curricula to teach such offensive absurdities as the benefits of chattel slavery for the kidnapped Africans ripped from their homes, families, languages, and cultural traditions, and relegated to the legal status of livestock.
1:23:26
Today, along with council member Abreu, I've introduced a resolution that will state clearly and proudly that such racist and other queerphobic human rights violations have no place in New York City.
1:23:38
Our libraries already offer free digital library cards nationwide to help those living under authoritarian oppression circumvent the right wing book bans being inflicted on them.
1:23:47
With this resolution, the world will know that this council will defend the freedom to read, that we will defend inclusive democracy, that we will defend the lives of queer New Yorkers and New Yorkers of color, and that we are putting powerful bigots on notice.
1:24:00
So we all deserve the freedom to read, and I'm asking my colleagues to please support resolution seven two seven.
1:24:05
Thank you.