Jessica Horton
@jessicahorton.bsky.social
Graduate (of law). Writer (of words). Maker (of quilty things). Lover (of randomness). Cofounder (of https://www.letdavisread.org). She/her.
Reposted by Jessica Horton
The MA Senate will be voting on An Act Regarding Free Expression on Thursday 11/13. This Boston Globe article touts this as a positive development, but while the protections for libraries are welcome, this version of the bill strips all protections from authors. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/08/m...
Republicans have made it easier for book bans across the country. Massachusetts Democrats are looking to curb them here. - The Boston Globe
The Massachusetts Senate will vote Thursday on legislation that would create a set of rules and restrictions for school districts to follow when adding or removing school library materials.
www.bostonglobe.com
November 8, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The MA Senate will be voting on An Act Regarding Free Expression on Thursday 11/13. This Boston Globe article touts this as a positive development, but while the protections for libraries are welcome, this version of the bill strips all protections from authors. www.bostonglobe.com/2025/11/08/m...
Reposted by Jessica Horton
“The current proliferation of AI that we see particularly in the library and education spaces would not be possible at the speed and scale that is happening without the precedent of book bans leading into it.” — @maggietokudahall.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
AI Is Supercharging the War on Libraries, Education, and Human Knowledge
"Fascism and AI, whether or not they have the same goals, they sure are working to accelerate one another."
www.404media.co
November 7, 2025 at 12:50 AM
“The current proliferation of AI that we see particularly in the library and education spaces would not be possible at the speed and scale that is happening without the precedent of book bans leading into it.” — @maggietokudahall.bsky.social
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
www.404media.co/ai-is-superc...
I went to the park to write this morning and encountered a pack of mini velociraptors. Turns out wild turkeys are a Utah thing, too. @theferocity.bsky.social
November 6, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I went to the park to write this morning and encountered a pack of mini velociraptors. Turns out wild turkeys are a Utah thing, too. @theferocity.bsky.social
Reposted by Jessica Horton
I gave birth to my first child nearly 10 years ago. I had just graduated law school, taken the bar, and was clerking for a federal district court judge. I naively thought I’d get maternity leave. I didn’t.
November 6, 2025 at 5:05 AM
I gave birth to my first child nearly 10 years ago. I had just graduated law school, taken the bar, and was clerking for a federal district court judge. I naively thought I’d get maternity leave. I didn’t.
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Viral posts about how Moms For Liberty had zero wins on election night...aren't true. They're misinformation, even dis-info.
M4L did have a number of school board candidates win. You can verify that information pretty easily.
They had *A LOT* of losses and their power isn't what it once was.
M4L did have a number of school board candidates win. You can verify that information pretty easily.
They had *A LOT* of losses and their power isn't what it once was.
November 6, 2025 at 11:43 AM
Viral posts about how Moms For Liberty had zero wins on election night...aren't true. They're misinformation, even dis-info.
M4L did have a number of school board candidates win. You can verify that information pretty easily.
They had *A LOT* of losses and their power isn't what it once was.
M4L did have a number of school board candidates win. You can verify that information pretty easily.
They had *A LOT* of losses and their power isn't what it once was.
I gave birth to my first child nearly 10 years ago. I had just graduated law school, taken the bar, and was clerking for a federal district court judge. I naively thought I’d get maternity leave. I didn’t.
November 6, 2025 at 5:05 AM
I gave birth to my first child nearly 10 years ago. I had just graduated law school, taken the bar, and was clerking for a federal district court judge. I naively thought I’d get maternity leave. I didn’t.
Why yes, I will partake of this hopium. Thanks to all the incredible organizers and voters who showed up to make these victories possible!
I can't keep the thread up, but suffice to say, PEOPLE VOTED TO PROTECT AND FUND LIBRARIES AND SO MANY SCHOOL BOARD ELECTIONS SUPPORTED PRO-EDUCATION, PRO-STUDENT CANDIDATES.
People showed up. They didn't just buy banned books. They VOTED.
And guess what?
Voting made a difference.
People showed up. They didn't just buy banned books. They VOTED.
And guess what?
Voting made a difference.
November 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Why yes, I will partake of this hopium. Thanks to all the incredible organizers and voters who showed up to make these victories possible!
Local dog finds reason to smile despite cone of shame.
November 4, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Local dog finds reason to smile despite cone of shame.
If you’re in Utah, resist the urge to pat yourself on the back after stocking your little free library with this book (which I adore). There is still more work to do! You can buy the book AND join @letutahread.bsky.social to help us fight more book bans this upcoming legislative session.
Remember when the book banners said it was "only" school libraries? That kids could get the book at the public library or buy it?
We knew they were fucking liars and moving the goal post again and again.
Not the first bookstore that caved to their bigotry and it won't be the last.
America.
We knew they were fucking liars and moving the goal post again and again.
Not the first bookstore that caved to their bigotry and it won't be the last.
America.
This has been a really rough few days. I recently learned of a controversy around our book THE PRINCESS IN BLACK AND THE PRINCE IN PINK. Some were outraged that Deseret Book carried it (a chain of bookstores in the west). Deseret Book appears to have complied to their demands and removed it. 1/
November 4, 2025 at 12:25 AM
If you’re in Utah, resist the urge to pat yourself on the back after stocking your little free library with this book (which I adore). There is still more work to do! You can buy the book AND join @letutahread.bsky.social to help us fight more book bans this upcoming legislative session.
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Hi readers!! November's banned book club is coming up!! Join us over Zoom in discussing What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold on Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm.
RSVP: www.fightforthefirst.org/events/novem...
RSVP: www.fightforthefirst.org/events/novem...
November Banned Book Club
Continuing our Elana K. Arnold streak from last month, we're reading What Girls Are Made Of.
This YA novel was a finalist for the National Book Award for Young People's Literature and was descr...
www.fightforthefirst.org
November 3, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Hi readers!! November's banned book club is coming up!! Join us over Zoom in discussing What Girls Are Made Of by Elana K. Arnold on Nov. 18 at 6:30 pm.
RSVP: www.fightforthefirst.org/events/novem...
RSVP: www.fightforthefirst.org/events/novem...
“This is more than a facility,” he said. “It is a statement of who we are as a state.”
Governor Cox is telling on himself here. So much for being a compassionate conservative.
Governor Cox is telling on himself here. So much for being a compassionate conservative.
Under Trump, the draconian future of homelessness policy is coming into focus: mass internment. Utah is building a 16-acre site to detain up to 1,300 homeless people inside locked "accountability centers." This is profoundly alarming.
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
In Utah, Trump’s Vision for Homelessness Begins to Take Shape
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
“This is more than a facility,” he said. “It is a statement of who we are as a state.”
Governor Cox is telling on himself here. So much for being a compassionate conservative.
Governor Cox is telling on himself here. So much for being a compassionate conservative.
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard, authors of THE DAY THE BOOKS DISAPPEARED, had their elementary school author visit canceled when they arrived and students were waiting for them.
Why? Because they wouldn't *not* talk about book bans–inspiration for their book.
bookriot.com/the-day-the-...
Why? Because they wouldn't *not* talk about book bans–inspiration for their book.
bookriot.com/the-day-the-...
Why Did These Authors Have Their School Visit Canceled? They Were Talking About Their Book About Book Bans.
Country Club Elementary School in California's Bay Area canceled an author visit moments before it began. Why? It covered book bans.
bookriot.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:19 PM
Joanna Ho and Caroline Kusin Pritchard, authors of THE DAY THE BOOKS DISAPPEARED, had their elementary school author visit canceled when they arrived and students were waiting for them.
Why? Because they wouldn't *not* talk about book bans–inspiration for their book.
bookriot.com/the-day-the-...
Why? Because they wouldn't *not* talk about book bans–inspiration for their book.
bookriot.com/the-day-the-...
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Since we mourn for the dead and fight like hell for the living, I’m bumping my thread about how from my perspective as a former Junior Olympic level track runner, this “fairness” transphobia is fucking bullshit blacksky.community/profile/did:...
As a former child junior olympic-level runner, I have a few thoughts on the attacks on trans girls in sports. I ran for one of the most competitive teams in Southern California, and people who ran for my have gone on to become professional athletes. And these bans: they're fucking NONSENSE. 🧵
October 28, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Since we mourn for the dead and fight like hell for the living, I’m bumping my thread about how from my perspective as a former Junior Olympic level track runner, this “fairness” transphobia is fucking bullshit blacksky.community/profile/did:...
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Our friends @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social are gathering information about "soft censorship" happening in the US According to School Library Journal, soft censorship is a "quiet banishing that often comes without explanation." If you've seen it in your community, please respond to their survey
Soft Censorship of Diverse Books
WNDB is collecting information on the soft censorship of diverse books across the US. Have you witnessed soft censorship in your community? Please share your experiences below. Your response can be…
docs.google.com
October 27, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Our friends @weneeddiversebooks.bsky.social are gathering information about "soft censorship" happening in the US According to School Library Journal, soft censorship is a "quiet banishing that often comes without explanation." If you've seen it in your community, please respond to their survey
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Surprise–Utah just quietly banned its 19th book from *every single public school* in the state.
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY was banned yesterday. It must be removed from every public school statewide.
bookriot.com/utah-bans-th...
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY was banned yesterday. It must be removed from every public school statewide.
bookriot.com/utah-bans-th...
Utah Quietly Bans Its 19th Book from All State Public Schools
Utah just quietly banned THIRTEEN REASONS WHY from all public schools across the state. It's their 19th state-sanctioned book ban.
bookriot.com
October 24, 2025 at 2:22 PM
Surprise–Utah just quietly banned its 19th book from *every single public school* in the state.
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY was banned yesterday. It must be removed from every public school statewide.
bookriot.com/utah-bans-th...
THIRTEEN REASONS WHY was banned yesterday. It must be removed from every public school statewide.
bookriot.com/utah-bans-th...
Reposted by Jessica Horton
I have spots open in the small writing group I run! There are weekly write-ins on zoom, a monthly craft chat, and opportunity for one on one calls with me and edits on your page. I think it's pretty amazing but you don't have to take my word for it. Here's what current members say.
October 23, 2025 at 4:36 PM
I have spots open in the small writing group I run! There are weekly write-ins on zoom, a monthly craft chat, and opportunity for one on one calls with me and edits on your page. I think it's pretty amazing but you don't have to take my word for it. Here's what current members say.
This post got me thinking about how we're appealing a few book bans in Davis School District (Utah) because a public records request revealed district officials weren't entirely truthful about their process for reviewing books. Here's what's been happening: 1/
Sometimes to fight book bans you need to know what your officials are doing and sometimes they ah...don't want to tell you. Here's how to make a FOIA request in EVERY state docs.google.com/document/u/0...
FOIA - How to File a FOIA Request in Each State.docx
FOIA Requesting School Board and School District Records Purpose: Fighting book censorship legislation by requesting information from elected school board officials as members of the general public ...
docs.google.com
October 22, 2025 at 7:58 PM
This post got me thinking about how we're appealing a few book bans in Davis School District (Utah) because a public records request revealed district officials weren't entirely truthful about their process for reviewing books. Here's what's been happening: 1/
This is an awesome resource!
For Utah, you can also submit requests online using the Open Records Portal (secured.utah.gov/ut-archives/...). It's fast and easy and also allows you to ask for fee waivers.
For Utah, you can also submit requests online using the Open Records Portal (secured.utah.gov/ut-archives/...). It's fast and easy and also allows you to ask for fee waivers.
October 22, 2025 at 3:15 PM
This is an awesome resource!
For Utah, you can also submit requests online using the Open Records Portal (secured.utah.gov/ut-archives/...). It's fast and easy and also allows you to ask for fee waivers.
For Utah, you can also submit requests online using the Open Records Portal (secured.utah.gov/ut-archives/...). It's fast and easy and also allows you to ask for fee waivers.
The insult to injury is just how horrifically ugly it’s going to be.
October 20, 2025 at 10:33 PM
The insult to injury is just how horrifically ugly it’s going to be.
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Sorry for the late notice but if you're in Alabama, there is a really important PUBLIC hearing happening tomorrow. Get there if you can!
If you're in Alabama and can, the state library discrimination services are holding a public hearing tomorrow about banning all "trans" books from those under 18 in libraries state-wide.
gulfcoastmedia.com/stories/apls...
gulfcoastmedia.com/stories/apls...
APLS to hold public hearing on proposed transgender book ban - Gulf Coast Media
The Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) will hold a public hearing on Oct. 21 in Montgomery on a proposed state code change that would ban transgender materials for minors. If approved, the …
gulfcoastmedia.com
October 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM
Sorry for the late notice but if you're in Alabama, there is a really important PUBLIC hearing happening tomorrow. Get there if you can!
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Cache County, Utah --> ACTION ITEMS.
ACTION ALERT‼️ Cache County library is in danger of being defunded‼️
Council member George Daines will be proposing a budget at the Cache County Council meeting on Oct. 29 that will defund the Cache County Library completely.
Speak up with us.
Sign the petition: docs.google.com/forms/d/1eiH...
Council member George Daines will be proposing a budget at the Cache County Council meeting on Oct. 29 that will defund the Cache County Library completely.
Speak up with us.
Sign the petition: docs.google.com/forms/d/1eiH...
October 16, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Cache County, Utah --> ACTION ITEMS.
5yo: My pants smell like legs.
October 15, 2025 at 5:56 PM
5yo: My pants smell like legs.
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Updated chart (even fewer restrictions)
Our initial chart misrepresented the total number of students with restrictions because the number given was based on the average percentage with limited access instead of the actual percentage. It also miscalculated the unrestricted average.
Our initial chart misrepresented the total number of students with restrictions because the number given was based on the average percentage with limited access instead of the actual percentage. It also miscalculated the unrestricted average.
October 15, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Updated chart (even fewer restrictions)
Our initial chart misrepresented the total number of students with restrictions because the number given was based on the average percentage with limited access instead of the actual percentage. It also miscalculated the unrestricted average.
Our initial chart misrepresented the total number of students with restrictions because the number given was based on the average percentage with limited access instead of the actual percentage. It also miscalculated the unrestricted average.
Reposted by Jessica Horton
Read that again.
.01% of parents deny their children access to school libraries because it is literally .01% of parents creating the moral panic and spreading lies about books in school libraries.
Yet there are schools COMPLETELY BANNING LIBRARIES FROM THEIR ENTIRE STUDENT BODY.
.01% of parents deny their children access to school libraries because it is literally .01% of parents creating the moral panic and spreading lies about books in school libraries.
Yet there are schools COMPLETELY BANNING LIBRARIES FROM THEIR ENTIRE STUDENT BODY.
Public school parents overwhelmingly trust the curation of library professionals.
When we enroll our children at a school, we assume the school will give them every opportunity to access the same resources available to other students without unnecessary barriers to entry.
When we enroll our children at a school, we assume the school will give them every opportunity to access the same resources available to other students without unnecessary barriers to entry.
October 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Read that again.
.01% of parents deny their children access to school libraries because it is literally .01% of parents creating the moral panic and spreading lies about books in school libraries.
Yet there are schools COMPLETELY BANNING LIBRARIES FROM THEIR ENTIRE STUDENT BODY.
.01% of parents deny their children access to school libraries because it is literally .01% of parents creating the moral panic and spreading lies about books in school libraries.
Yet there are schools COMPLETELY BANNING LIBRARIES FROM THEIR ENTIRE STUDENT BODY.
To be honest, I’m really nervous for next year’s legislative session in Utah. These types of recommendations are going to lead to schools closing their libraries so they can “review” books to comply with whatever nonsense the Utah legislature comes up with.
Audit: More stringent selection policies could lead to less 'sensitive materials' in school libraries
The Utah Legislature is continuing to focus on the contents of school libraries across the state, this time honing in on the process of how books are selected to build out a library.
www.ksl.com
October 15, 2025 at 1:46 AM
To be honest, I’m really nervous for next year’s legislative session in Utah. These types of recommendations are going to lead to schools closing their libraries so they can “review” books to comply with whatever nonsense the Utah legislature comes up with.