588. Amanda Jones, Library Defender, Part 2

588. Part 2 of our interview of Amanda Jones, library defender. Amanda served as an educator in Louisiana for over twenty years. Jones had long been a vocal opponent to book censorship, arguing that book challenges have disproportionally targeted books with LGBTQ or BIPOC themes, characters, or authors. In July 2022, Jones spoke publicly against book censorship at a Livingston Parish Public Library Board meeting. After the meeting, multiple conservative organizations posted about Jones on their websites and social media pages. In 2022, Jones helped to create Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, an organization in which she is executive director, as well as the Livingston Parish Library Alliance. Jones has lobbied against censorship legislation in Louisiana, specifically Louisiana Senate Bill 7 in 2023, to limit access to minors of material with "sexual conduct", and House Bills 414 and 545 in 2024, which would apply state obscenity law to libraries. The former was signed into law in June 2023.

1. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 220 years. Order your copy today!
   
2. This week in Louisiana history. August 24, 1955. U.S. Appellate Court desegregated LSU undergraduate classes.
   
3. This week in New Orleans history. On August 24, 1963 a grass-roots group of  daily streetcar riders advertised a petition seeking signatures to "Save Our Streetcars" on Canal Street.  Mrs. Joan L. Legrand and Cyril O. Rouseau organized the petition activities.
   
4. This week in Louisiana.
   Dutch Oven Gathering
   Lake Bistineau State Park
   103 State Park Rd.
   Doyline, LA 71023
   September 14, 2024 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
   Meeting, Greeting, Cooking & Eating
   Pots are usually on the coals by 9:30 am
   Tasting begins at Noon
   Bring your chairs and drinks. 
   Entrance fees into the park apply.
   
5. Postcards from Louisiana. The Jazz Vipers play at the French Quarter Fest.     

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