Ariana Grande and other artists signed an open letter against book restrictions in the United States

Ariana Grande and other superstars have stood up against United States laws that seek to ban different books in public schools in the American nation. The ban on literature has been on the rise since last year, with different parenting legislations targeted mostly toward books for teenagers and preadolescents that touch upon LGBTQI, political or social themes. 

One of the most recent examples of this ban is “And Tango Makes Three” by Justin Robertson, a book about two male penguins who help a hatchling egg together, which was banned from public school shelves in the United States. Similarly, “Anne Frank’s Diary: The Graphic Adaptation,” was also removed from school libraries due to its “inappropriate” content.

In response, different people in the entertainment industry including names such as Ariana Grande, Guillermo del Toro, Idina Menzel, Ava Max, Zooey Deschanel, Mark Ruffalo, and Sharon Stone got together on the petition letter launched by Reading Rainbow host, Levar Burton, to put an end over the book bans that have been affecting the United States these past few years.

The open letter says about the restriction of these books in the country: “is not just antithetical to free speech and expression but has a chilling effect on the broader creative field. The government cannot and should not create any interference or dictate what people can produce, write, generate, read, listen to or consume.”

The open letter comes at a time when putting pressure on legislation regarding book banning is necessary. It also states that it is only a matter of time before the ban starts covering other entertainment forms and affects marginalized communities.

If you would like to sign the petition go to: https://front.moveon.org/