Polk County Schools Superintendent Frederick Heid has removed 16 books from Polk County Middle and High Schools due to complaints from an alt right fringe group County Citizens Defending Freedom who claim that these books violate Florida Statute 847.012. PCSB states that these books “have not been censored or banned” but at the same time have physically removed the books from circulation at Polk County Schools so that students cannot access them with no definitive end date given on when the books will be returned which by definition is a form of censorship and is basically at its heart a ban of these books in all but name.
All of the titles listed deal with LGBTQ characters or issues, sex and sexuality, critical race theory, race, racial inequities, gender and non-traditional family structures and as such have been targeted by proto-fascists groups specifically to limit students access to these materials in the name of “freedom”. These actions are reprehensible and Polk DSA is committed to ensuring that both students and adults have free access to these books and any others that may be targeted in the future. Information should not be gate kept and students should not be made to feel as though their lived experiences are not represented in their public schools.
To combat this heinous act against free information we have started a fundraiser to purchase copies of the books in question to be distributed via Little Free Libraries located all across the county. 100% of all contributions will go towards the purchase of the books listed and all of these books will be provided to the community free of charge.
To donate please visit https://gofund.me/dbe0c5b3 , all contributions are appreciated and will get these important works into the hands of kids who deserve to read them.
We are also sponsoring a letter writing campaign that you can participate in: https://actionnetwork.org/letters/polk-county-public-schools-banned-books?source=direct_link&
If you would prefer to donate physical copies of the books feel free to drop them off at any of our weekly food shares. We are out in the community in Munn Park every Wednesday and Sunday at 11:00 AM and in Lake Wales on Thursdays at 4:00 PM at the Lake Wales Care Center Thrift Shop.
You may also leave copies of the books at any of the Free Library locations compiled below at any time and we encourage everyone to do so.
For those that may not have the ability to access a Free Library location we have provided links to free downloads of these books below:
- Beloved – Toni Morrison
- Two Boys Kissing – David Levithan
- The Kite Runner – Khaled Hosseini
- Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close – Jonathan Safran Foer
- Thirteen Reason Why – Jay Asher
- The Vincent Boys – Abbi Glines
- It’s Perfectly Normal – Robie H Harris and Michael Emberly
- Real Live Boyfriends- Emily Lockhart
- George – Alex Gino
- I am Jazz – Jessica Herthel and Jazz Jennings
- Drama – Raina Telgemeier
- Nineteen Minutes – Jodi Picoult
- More Happy Than Not – Adam Silvera
- The Bluest Eye – Toni Morrison
- Tricks – Ellen Hopkins
- Almost Perfect – Brian Katcher
Current Free Library Locations We Are Aware Of (If you have additional locations to add please email polkcounty.dsa@gmail.com we will continue to update and maintain this list)
Chain of Lakes Elementary School – 7001 State Highway 653, Winter Haven, FL 33884
Winter Haven – Central Park 1-35 4th St NW, Winter Haven
Adler’s Burgers 543 Avenue B SW, Winter Haven
Strickland Ave – Lakeland (outside the church 5935 Strickland Ave, Lakeland, FL 33812)
Cleveland Heights near Clubhouse 2900 Buckingham Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803
Garden Grove Elementary – 4599 Cypress Gardens Rd, Winter Haven, FL 33884
Edgewood – White House With metal Roof (no address at this time)
Campfire Sunshine – 2600 Buckingham Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803
Unitarian Universalist Congregation – 3140 Troy Ave, Lakeland, FL 33803