This Louisiana Librarian Stood Up Against Book Censorship

For centuries, books have been banned, blocked, and even burned. Whether due to accusations of obscenity, heresy, political subversion, or for some other reason, countless volumes have found themselves censored by various structures of power.

The works of John Milton and Thomas Paine were suppressed by jittery British authorities. Medieval texts like The Decameron and The Canterbury Tales were deemed too “filthy” for publication in the U.S.. And books by D.H. Lawrence and George Orwell have been suppressed in plenty of countries.

But this doesn’t mean that we should just accept censorship unquestioningly. For librarians like Amanda Jones, many book bans do not protect society, and instead serve to further marginalize already vulnerable individuals. Now, Amanda is telling her own story and shining a light on her struggle against book censorship.

Educator and Librarian

By the early 2020s, Amanda Jones had already enjoyed a long and celebrated career as an educator and librarian in her native Louisiana. After two decades of working in education, Jones was named School Librarian of the Year for 2021 by the School Library Journal and was recognized as one of the country’s leading professionals in the Library Journal.

But in 2022, Jones found herself catapulted from the pages of trade publications right into the broader public eye. In July that year, residents of Watson, LA, held a meeting regarding the content of certain books in local libraries. During the meeting, one of the board members voiced her concerns about “inappropriate” material being made available to children and young people.

Jones offered her thoughts on this. She made it clear that she understood how book challenges are often driven by “the best intentions,” but stated that they often “target marginalized communities.” Jones also said that censorship can make it difficult for young people to access resources on sexual health and reproduction, which can result in serious harm.

This was a thoughtful and considered contribution to the debate. Jones had put forward her own point of view and had remained respectful and measured throughout. She didn’t think much would come of her comments, but she was wrong.

A Campaign of Slander and Abuse

A local group heard about Amanda’s comments at the meeting. That group was Citizens for a New Louisiana, run by a local man by the name of Michael Lunsford. Known for their far-right leaning, Citizens for a New Louisiana had previous here – they’d risen to prominence after a campaign against a library in nearby Lafayette.

Now their target was not a library at all – it was Amanda Jones. One of the group took to Facebook to accuse Jones of “fighting hard to keep sexually erotic and pornographic material in the kids’ section.” This was followed by another post, making even more slanderous and unpleasant claims about Amanda.

Two voices of opposition might not seem like a lot. But remember, this was 2022, and the posts were on social media. Both were shared widely, and more and more voices joined the chorus. Amanda remembers one parent in particular, “whose child I had helped with getting services for a learning disability,” who was especially vicious.

The strain was enormous. Jones began receiving death threats, she lost weight rapidly, and even began to lose her hair. Her family and friends became targets, too. But she would not be broken by the bullies.

Fighting Back

Jones decided that enough was enough. She sued Michael Lunsford and post author Ryan Thames for defamation. Though her case was unsuccessful – the judge decided, shockingly, that online abuse is to be expected for someone who is a “limited public figure” – it did raise her profile.

Appalled by the treatment she had received for adding her voice to the debate, more and more people came out in support of Jones. She gave talks right across the country and was one of the founders of Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship. To this day, she remains a tireless advocate for intellectual freedom and social equality, across Louisiana and beyond.

In 2024, she published her own account of what she went through. That Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America is an often harrowing, frequently upsetting, but ultimately inspiring book that documents the resilience and determination of its author.

Protecting the Rights of All Children, Everywhere

Amanda Jones provides a great example to us all. In recent years, it sometimes feels like the character of public debate has gone severely downhill. People are more likely to call each other names or make threats against one another than have a constructive conversation.

When Amanda Jones spoke in Walton, Louisiana, in 2022, she put her views across intelligently and respectfully. She cited the need to provide age-appropriate literature for children, but also warned against politicized reactionism that is harmful to communities and individuals.

The response she received was shocking, but Amanda remained unbowed. The fact that she continues to keep her head held high and is unwavering in her commitment is nothing short of amazing.