COLUMBUS, Ohio — An Ohio Republican lawmaker is defending his controversial bill that would charge teachers and school district librarians with felonies for "pandering" so-called "obscene" material. Bridget Rueter’s kids love reading, which has inspired her mission to...
Book Bans
The PA mother who’s standing up against book bans—and the Dems standing with her
Pennsylvania ranks third in the nation for proposed book bans in academic libraries and public schools. This is a story about reading, but let’s start with some math: 644.That’s the number of book bans in Pennsylvania public school districts between July 2021 and June...
Wake school board backs LGBTQ, diverse books grants. But the vote comes after a fight.
‘Matters of life and death’ The debate at Tuesday’s school board meeting highlights the ongoing cultural wars going on across North Carolina and the nation. It led to state lawmakers adopting the “Parents’ Bill of Rights.” The law’s provisions include barring...
After fighting ‘extremist’ school boards, PA advocates network to help fight other efforts
Policies that end up culling library shelves and policing bathrooms don’t happen in a vacuum, and the concerted efforts of certain groups are no secret to longtime advocates in PAWInS. Localized social media groups on Facebook and other platforms can be a popular...
‘It’s an act of resistance:’ Groups ramp up efforts in the fight to stop book bans
WASHINGTON – They signed in for the online “Troublemaker Training’’ from places like Colorado, Michigan, New York and Tennessee. More than 70 attendees got tips on talking points they could use in the fight against book bans in their communities. “Book banning… seems...
Library debate combatants take fight to School Board, political organizing
Though the battle over Samuels Public Library is over, skirmishes in the nation’s culture wars continue to erupt in Warren County. Many involved on both sides have signaled their intention to continue fighting, shifting their focus to political organizing and public...
Red Wine & Blue Looks to Reappropriate the Term ‘Parental Rights’ and Fight Book Bans
Conservatives have been strategic in their push to ban books. The need to hide information and knowledge from students is critical in their quest for power. And with these non-stop attacks on education, it often feels like the right wing has out-strategized us. As...
‘Fight book bans’: Central York parent-planned read-a-thon will feature banned books
In addition to guest readers, nonprofit Red Wine and Blue will have their "Banned Bookmobile" parked outside the event. Red Wine and Blue, started after the 2018 midterm election, operates out of suburban swing districts in the United States and works to defeat...
Philadelphians, take a bow
Moms for Liberty — hereafter known to me as “The Mothers” — must’ve thought they picked a city that was ready for their proselytizing. But when they arrived in Philadelphia, they found themselves in what is probably their image of hell. Philadelphians, take a bow. You...
Moms For Liberty flexes its muscles — and faces pushback
“It was bold, very bold” of them to come to Philadelphia, said Kim Barbero, a Bucks County, Pennsylvania, mom and a deputy director for Red, Wine & Blue, a national group organizing progressive suburban women. “They bring chaos into our communities, and we need to...
Recent Posts
Do This: Reclaim our Democracy this July 4th
This weekend, America celebrates our 250th Independence Day. To get ready for this milestone, we took the Easy A actions of reading the Declaration of Independence together and pausing to consider the complicated meaning of July 4th for different Americans throughout...
Watch This: Frederick Douglass’ “What to the Slave is the 4th of July?”
250 years ago, Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, putting to paper the American ideals of freedom, equality, and the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But what did this declaration mean for indigenous and enslaved people in...
Read This: America’s Declaration of Independence on its 250th Anniversary
In just a few weeks, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of our Declaration of Independence. As we celebrate this July 4th, let’s go back to school and study the primary source! Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence, which was then...
Do This: Spread the word to support LGBTQ+ kids and teens
Now that we know how conversion therapy hurts LGBTQ+ kids and teens, let’s not keep this information to ourselves! Earn your Easy A this week by sharing life-saving information and resources with your friends and family. We’ve made it easy to do by creating these...
Watch This: Drew’s experience with conversion therapy
Last week, we learned how “conversion therapy” hurts LGBTQ+ kids and teens. It’s not just that it’s been widely discredited by doctors, educators, and religious leaders. It’s also proven to be abusive and traumatic. Red Wine & Blue’s Chief of Staff, Drew Amstutz,...