Harris County Commissioner Rodney Ellis, State Rep. Ron Reynolds, Fort Bend County Commissioner Dexter McCoy and Harris County Public Library (HCPL) Director Edward Melton recognize Banned Books Week (Sept. 22-28) by highlighting the fight against state and local government officials who are trying to erase essential chapters of our history. The forces that are banning books, for example, are altering educational curriculums and minimizing the brutal truths of slavery by removing books that discuss race, gender, equity and inclusion. Texas leads the nation again in the number of banned books with 800-plus titles in 22 school districts. To combat those efforts, Harris County Commissioners Court in 2023 officially designated HCPL system as a "book sanctuary," which makes banned books available to the public.
Librarians, teachers, students, and community members also spoke out for the freedom to read.
Watch the livestream.