Group, publisher sue district over book bans

TALLAHASSEE, FLA. >> Writers’ group PEN America and publisher Penguin Random House sued a Florida school district over its removal of books about race and LGBTQ+ identities, the latest opposition to a policy central to Gov. Ron DeSantis’ agenda as he prepares to run for president.

The federal lawsuit alleges the Escambia County School District and its School Board are violating the First Amendment through the removal of 10 books from library shelves.

The case does not name DeSantis as a defendant though the governor has championed policies that allow the censorship and challenging of books based on whether they are appropriate for children in schools, causing national uproar.