YAF Breaks Burbank Blockade Of Academic Freedom, Provides Banned Books To Students

Young America’s Foundation will provide to Burbank students—free of charge—classic books that were banned by the Burbank Unified School District in November. The banned works include To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain, The Cay by Theodore Taylor, and Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor.  In addition to putting the books Burbank schools are attempting to hide directly into students’ hands, YAF is calling on those with the power to do the right thing—the board members of the Burbank Unified School District—to immediately rescind their ban on these books. “This ban is nothing short of academic censorship and goes against the freedoms and liberties on which our country was founded,” noted Paige Huleis, a YAF activist and student at Burbank High School. “Burbank Unified School District is hindering the ability of students like me to learn, grow, and develop. My peers and I are grateful that YAF and concerned Americans are taking action to right this wrong.” “These books are classics of American fiction precisely because they address uncomfortable historical truths from our past,” said Rob Raede, who—along with his wife Ellen—are the generous Young America’s Foundation supporters making these books available to Burbank USD students. “We are proud to do what we can to make sure the students of Burbank have access to this great literature, despite the efforts of the book-banning cowards on the school board to deny to their students the lessons contained within.” “History is to be learned from, not erased anytime the whims of a leftist mob deem it uncomfortable,” added YAF Spokesman Spencer Brown. “Young America’s Foundation has been committed to defending academic freedom for more than six decades. Now, thanks to the generous support of Mr. and Mrs. Raede, we are able to provide these important works of literature and do what the Burbank School Board won’t—allow its students to learn from and wrestle with the ideas in these iconic books.” Students from Burbank USD and their parents can request YAF’s ‘Academic Freedom: A Novel Idea’ package via YAF.org/bannedbooks. The package contains copies of To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, The Cay by Theodore Taylor, Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred Taylor, and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain. In addition, Young America’s Foundation is including some of our most popular student resources including YAF’s “Why Free Speech is Essential to Our Campus and to Our Country,” a pocket Constitution, “I Support Free Speech, Not Political Correctness” sticker, “Academic Freedom: A Novel Idea” sticker, and the article “Banning Huck Finn Would Hurt More Than It Helps” by Katherine Timpf originally published in National Review. Burbank USD’s next board meeting is slated for December 17, ahead of which concerned citizens may contact the Burbank Unified School District to share their thoughts on this troubling development by calling the district at 818-729-4400 or by emailing board members individually via this page: https://www.burbankusd.org/Page/1946. Click here to donate to YAF’s efforts to overcome the Left’s book-banning efforts.

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For additional information or to request an interview contact YAF Spokesman Spencer Brown via [email protected] or 800-872-1776.