Nathaniel Pierce, Staff Writer~
“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” -Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird.
While this quote may not seem like much, at one point in time it was a part of a book that was being denounced, and was en route to being banned. To Kill a Mockingbird, along with many other novels were, and still are, being challenged.
This Thursday, Sept. 28, the Knight-Capron library is partnering with the American Library Association for the second annual Read-Out Against Censorship at Lynchburg College. Students are encouraged to come to the library at 7 p.m. for refreshments and to read or recite excerpts from a book that one might want to remember if it were to be permanently destroyed.
According to ALA.org, The American Library Association, along with Lynchburg College, takes part in Banned Books Week. This is a nationally recognized event created to combat censorship.
The Colleges’ librarians are enthusiastic about The Read-Out Against Censorship. The Director of the Library, Jennifer Horton, is excited to share the opposition to censorship that is at the core of Lynchburg College’s belief system. Horton said, “Banning books is censorship and censorship strips us of the very inalienable rights given to us by the Constitution of the United States. Freedom is not a spectator sport. Celebrate your freedom by coming to the Read-Out Against Censorship. And think of how different your life would be without (insert your favorite book title here)”.
The librarians are hopeful that students will come out and show their stance against censorship. For more information go to https://www.lynchburg.edu/news/event/read-out-against-censorship/