Illinois celebrating book bans during Banned Books Week

Posted on October 3, 2023
Governor Pritzker. (Photo courtesy; Dave Dahl/WJBC)

By Dave Dahl

SPRINGFIELD – The first state to ban book bans is celebrating Banned Books Week. 

The Regenstein Library at the University of Chicago is planning to display its collection of banned books, a seemingly appropriate place for Gov. JB Pritzker.

“Everyone here is protecting our children and parents’ rights,” the governor said. “But there are small mobs of people around the country and here in Illinois who are trying to use the terminology of freedom and saying that they are protecting our children. But they use it as a veil for their bigotry, and they don’t really care about helping children learn and grow at an age-appropriate pace.”

The university’s banned books are available through the Digital Public Library of America.

Dave Dahl can be reached at [email protected].

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