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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
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page Bayou State of Mind posted an image of Jones which stated that she was "advocating teaching anal sex to 11-year-olds." Citizens for a New
Louisiana posted an image of Jones with a red circle with a white border, resembling a target, with text reading "Why is she fighting so hard to keep sexually
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Despite losing the lawsuit, Jones gained support and recognition as one of the first librarians to seek legal recourse against book banning advocates. Following the publicity of the case, Jones has become a spokesperson for the anti-censorship movement, speaking across the United States on book
83:'s Paul Howard Award for Courage, which honors "an individual who has exhibited unusual courage for the benefit of library programs or services." In 2022, Jones received national news coverage after filing a defamation and harassment lawsuit against a
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141:, where she requested punitive damages, as well as a temporary restraining order. In September 2022, a judge dismissed Jones' case on the grounds that she was a "
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for over twenty years. Jones had long been a vocal opponent to book censorship, arguing that book challenges have disproportionally targeted books with
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Public
Library Board meeting. After the meeting, multiple conservative organizations posted about Jones on their websites and social media pages. The
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erotic and pornographic materials in the kid's section?" Following this, Jones began receiving harassing communications, had
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198:' Intellectual Freedom Award, and Louisiana Library Association's Alex Allain Intellectual Freedom Award. During the 2023
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praised Jones for her work stating "Amanda Jones started getting death threats, all for standing up for our right to read
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625:"Louisiana governor signs bill restricting minors' access to certain library materials • Louisiana Illuminator"
779:"School Library Journal on LinkedIn: 'A First Time for Everything' Wins 2023 National Book Award for Young..."
210:... but she's not stopped fighting against book bans, or stopped advocating for access to diverse stories."
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minors of material with "sexual conduct", and House Bills 414 and 545 in 2024, which would apply state
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253:"2021 School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones Creates Lesson About Navigating Social Media" in
461:"Judge dismisses librarian's defamation lawsuit following conservative attacks over LGBTQ books"
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857:"2021 School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones Creates Lesson About Navigating Social Media"
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804:"'A First Time for Everything' Wins 2023 National Book Award for Young People's Literature"
406:"A School Librarian Pushes Back on Censorship and Gets Death Threats and Online Harassment"
372:"A School Librarian Pushes Back on Censorship and Gets Death Threats and Online Harassment"
8:
346:"School Librarian Continues Defamation Law Suit; Champions First Amendment Rights of All"
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movements in the state of
Louisiana and throughout the US. In 2023, she was awarded the
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651:"Obscenity law would apply to Louisiana public, school libraries under proposed bills"
260:"You're Gonna Hear Me Roar: Speaking out against Censorship Efforts in My Community."
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883:"You're Gonna Hear Me Roar: Speaking out against Censorship Efforts in My Community"
513:"In rare move, school librarian fights back in court against conservative activists"
440:"A Small-Town Librarian Spoke Against Censorship. Then the Dark Money Came for Her"
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censorship and intellectual freedom, as well as publishing a book on the topic.
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In 2023, Jones received numerous intellectual freedom awards including the
145:" and that the posts against her were opinions, therefore not defamatory.
823:"The US librarian who sued book ban harassers: 'I decided to fight back'"
677:"Journeying with Jones: Amanda Jones, 2021 School Librarian of the Year"
565:"Culture war in the stacks: Librarians marshal against rising book bans"
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group that can push political causes without disclosing its donors.
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Amanda Jones accepting the AASL Intellectual
Freedom award in 2023
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In July 2022, Jones spoke publicly against book censorship at a
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law to libraries. The former was signed into law in June 2023.
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123:, and even received death threats. In describing the case,
538:"What It's Like to Be a Librarian in the Age of Book Bans"
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Amanda Jones, wearing an anti-censorship t-shirt from the
320:"Amanda Jones Petition For Damages and Injunctive Relief"
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That
Librarian: The Fight Against Book Banning in America
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In response to the harassment, Jones filed a lawsuit for
754:"Amanda Jones receives AASL Intellectual Freedom Award"
728:"Amanda Jones receives AASL Intellectual Freedom Award"
295:"Paul Howard Award for Courage | Awards & Grants"
702:"Amanda Jones | Movers & Shakers 2021–Educators"
71:advocate. Jones has been heavily involved in anti-
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127:referred to Citizens for a New Louisiana as a
121:personal information posted on the internet
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438:Garcia-Navarro, Lulu (November 17, 2022).
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239:. Bloomsbury Publishing. August 27, 2024.
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196:American Association of School Librarians
182:as School Librarian of the Year and made
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77:American Association of School Librarians
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404:Pendharkar, Eesha (September 23, 2022).
370:Pendharkar, Eesha (September 23, 2022).
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95:Amanda Jones served as an educator in
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79:' Intellectual Freedom Award and the
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275:Book censorship in the United States
623:Hutchinson, Piper (June 30, 2023).
511:Kingkade, Tyler (August 13, 2022).
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459:Gans, Jared (September 22, 2022).
344:Jensen, Kelly (November 1, 2022).
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107:themes, characters, or authors.
67:is an American librarian and anti-
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802:Yorio, Kara (November 16, 2023).
726:Cline, Allison (March 20, 2023).
597:Eschette, Tyler (March 7, 2024).
176:In 2021, Jones was recognized by
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57:School Librarian of the Year
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490:American Libraries Magazine
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191:Movers and Shakers list.
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934:Librarians from Louisiana
924:American women librarians
752:ACLINE (March 20, 2023).
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939:Activists from Louisiana
264:51, no. 2 (2022): 18-23.
881:Jones, Amanda (2022).
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808:School Library Journal
681:School Library Journal
255:School Library Journal
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179:School Library Journal
172:Awards and recognition
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758:News and Press Center
732:News and Press Center
629:Louisiana Illuminator
230:Summit, December 2023
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143:limited public figure
200:National Book Awards
919:American librarians
492:. September 1, 2023
486:"How We Fight Back"
445:The New York Times
257:, January 2, 2024.
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246:978-1-63973-353-8
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542:Next Avenue
913:Categories
281:References
202:Ceremony,
139:defamation
132:dark money
69:censorship
43:Occupation
899:1094-9046
835:0261-3077
787:March 22,
763:March 25,
737:March 25,
711:March 18,
686:March 18,
660:March 25,
634:March 25,
577:0190-8286
470:March 22,
423:March 22,
418:0277-4232
389:March 22,
384:0277-4232
355:March 22,
350:BOOK RIOT
329:March 22,
304:March 21,
166:obscenity
97:Louisiana
91:Biography
47:Librarian
608:April 3,
582:April 3,
548:April 3,
522:April 3,
517:NBC News
496:April 3,
465:The Hill
269:See also
116:Facebook
866:June 3,
840:June 3,
299:ala.org
226:at the
129:501(c)4
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189:'s
53:Awards
105:BIPOC
101:LGBTQ
895:ISSN
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