Kurt Vonnegut Museum slams Moms for Liberty's move to ban books from Brevard school libraries
The Indiana-based Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library criticized Moms for Liberty in an open letter and said it would be providing free copies of Slaughterhouse-Five to interested students in Brevard.
Moms for Liberty in Brevard has challenged 41 books in school libraries, including Slaughterhouse-Five and The Kite Runner. The chapter believes some of the books violate state pornography laws and others might be available to students too young to understand them. Adam Tritt, a Bayside High AP English teacher, set up an online fundraiser to get frequently challenged books in students’ hands.
Julia Whitehead, founder and CEO of the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library in Indianapolis, said the museum will send up to 1,000 books, and more if they receive donations. Interested students or their parents can contact info@vonnegutlibrary.org for a copy, according to the letter. Though the letter states Bayside High students can receive the books, Whitehead confirmed to FLORIDA TODAY any Brevard student or parent is eligible.
Whitehead also asked for a meeting with Bayside High staff and Moms for Liberty.
“You have misunderstood the meaning of the word ‘liberty,’” Whitehead wrote. “Removing someone else’s privilege of reading a book is an act that is worthy of rebellion. But we don’t actually have to rebel because these are our rights as Americans. We just simply have to help the school officials and elected officials to understand that the Constitution is our law of the land. The whims of one group of moms is not the law of our land.”
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Tritt’s fundraiser has raised $23,000 as of Monday afternoon since it started over two weeks ago. Tritt said he is able to purchase books for about $3.50 each. He said he has also received donated books for free.
Whitehead also said she was “deeply disturbed" by Moms for Liberty’s suggestion "that a teacher who teaches this book is somehow connected with nefarious activities that put children in harm’s way.”
A social media flurry formed in response to Tritt’s fundraiser, with some accusing Tritt of “grooming” children for sexual exploitation. The Brevard chapter of Moms for Liberty warned parents of the fundraiser on its Facebook page recently, writing, “Warnings to our children… 1994: Don’t take candy from strangers. 2022: Don’t take pornographic books from strangers.”
Moms for Liberty in Brevard has not publicly responded to the letter and has not responded to requests for comment from FLORIDA TODAY.
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But some conservatives have expressed concerns about the books that might be available to children at the distribution. Janice Crisp, a local conservative activist, said she was worried about “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison being provided to minors because of a graphic rape scene.
“It's very detailed… it’s sick,” Janice Crisp said. “And I'm concerned about the people who would put that in the hands of a child. Whether they be the parent, the teacher or a person in the community.”
The Bluest Eye has not been challenged in Brevard, but was included in the fundraiser because it has been banned in other locations.
According to his fundraiser page, Tritt has scheduled several pickup times and locations. Students 15 and under must have parental permission to get copies of books.
Bailey Gallion is the education reporter for FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallion at 321-242-3786 or bgallion@floridatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Moms for Liberty 'book ban' draws attention from Kurt Vonnegut Museum
