Several metal bands have signed an open letter calling upon folks to use their voice to put an end to book bans. As reported by The Hollywood Reporter, this open letter (published via MoveOn Political Action), is spearheaded by LeVar Burton, who is most famously known as the host of PBS’ Reading Rainbow.
Addressing readers and those who have signed it, the letter calls upon people to fight against book bans at the local level across US school districts. Among the points expressed in the letter, it says: “As artists, creators, entertainers, and activists, we recognize and are horrified by the threat of censorship in the form of book bans.”
Among key findings reported by the nonprofit Pen America, they note: “Overwhelmingly, book banners continue to target stories by and about people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals.”
The open letter also addresses these concerns, stating: “We cannot stress enough how these censorious efforts will not end with book bans. It’s only a matter of time before regressive, suppressive ideologues will shift their focus toward other forms of art and entertainment, to further their attacks and efforts to scapegoat marginalized communities, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks.”
Speaking about his disgust toward book bans and his desire for folks to stand up against them, Burton says, “It’s embarrassing that we are banning books in this country, in this culture, in this day and age. And it’s dangerous that a handful of individuals are deciding that any book with Black and queer people is divisive. We are calling on everyone to join us in raising their voices to uphold artistic freedom, embrace multicultural history and put a stop once and for all to book bans.”
Alongside actors and writers, several metal bands have signed this open letter. Among those present who speak out against book bans are: Converge, Cave In, Escuela Grind, Dying Wish, Knocked Loose, Trivium, Stray From The Path, and Old Man Gloom. There are also several rock and punk acts present, such as Chelsea Wolfe, PUP, and Gouge Away.
In a separate statement, MoveOn Political Action executive director Rahna Epting shared the following: “There is a growing consensus among the majority of Americans that book bans take our country backward. Ron DeSantis and MAGA Republicans seek to censor all of our diverse backgrounds and to punish those who live, love and think differently than they do. We won’t surrender to their extremism. They cannot erase us. We are the majority; we are defiant, and we will prevail.”
Below you can read the entirety of this open letter calling to put an end to book bans. You can also see the signatures of the aforementioned metal bands, and all those involved with the letter, by following this link here.
Open Letter:
As artists, creators, entertainers, and activists, we recognize and are horrified by the threat of censorship in the form of book bans.
This restrictive behavior is not just antithetical to free speech and expression but has a chilling effect on the broader creative field. The government cannot and should not create any interference or dictate what people can produce, write, generate, read, listen to, or consume.
We cannot stress enough how these censorious efforts will not end with book bans. It’s only a matter of time before regressive, suppressive ideologues will shift their focus toward other forms of art and entertainment, to further their attacks and efforts to scapegoat marginalized communities, particularly BIPOC and LGBTQ+ folks.
We refuse to remain silent as one creative field is subjected to oppressive bans. As artists, we must band together, because a threat to one form of art is a threat to us all.
We are calling on everyone to join us in pushing back against these book bans, support free and open creative industries—regardless of personal or ideological disagreements—and use their voice at the local level to stop these bans in their school districts. There is power in artistic freedom, and we refuse to allow draconian politicians to take that from us.