Book burnings have historically been associated with censorship, suppression of ideas, and the violation of freedom of expression (See "Books bans and ‘gag orders’: the US schools crackdown"). While many would like to believe that such events are relegated to the past, recent years have shown that book burnings still occur, even in modern democracies like the United States. This blog will provide a detailed overview of book burnings in the United States. January 2022 through October 2023
January 2022 - December 2022
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January 2022: In Wichita, Kansas, a public library reported an incident where a group of individuals burned a collection of LGBTQ+ literature. The incident gained national attention and sparked outrage among advocates for LGBTQ+ rights.
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March 2022: In Austin, Texas, a controversy arose when a school board voted to remove several books from the curriculum, citing concerns over their content. While these books were not physically burned, the act of removing them from educational settings drew parallels to censorship.
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May 2022: A far-right group organized a book burning event in Phoenix, Arizona, where they publicly burned books they deemed "subversive" or "liberal." The event received significant media coverage, raising concerns about the rise of extremist ideologies.
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July 2022: An arsonist targeted a public library in Detroit, Michigan, setting fire to a section of the library that housed books on various social justice issues. While not a large-scale book burning, this incident highlighted the vulnerability of public institutions to acts of destruction.
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December 2022: In Atlanta, Georgia, a university campus witnessed a small group burning copies of a controversial book on campus. The incident prompted discussions about free speech and the limits of expression on educational campuses.
January 2023 - October 2023
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February 2023: In San Francisco, California, a group advocating for stricter parental control over educational materials organized a book burning event outside a school district office. The event included the burning of books that some parents found objectionable in the curriculum.
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April 2023: A public library in Portland, Oregon, reported an incident where a disgruntled patron set fire to a section of the library containing books on climate change and environmental activism. The act was seen as an attack on science and knowledge.
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June 2023: An alarming incident occurred in Denver, Colorado, when a group of white supremacists set fire to a bookstore specializing in African American literature. This incident was widely condemned as a hate crime.
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August 2023: A controversial book burning took place in Charleston, South Carolina, as part of a protest against a city council decision. Protesters burned copies of books they believed portrayed the city's history unfairly.
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October 2023: In a bizarre incident in New York City, an individual attempted to burn a rare collection of historical books in a renowned library but was quickly apprehended by security. The incident raised questions about the security of valuable literary collections.
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Thanks for reading,
Rick