Summary
Books about race and gender are set to be returned to school libraries at military bases after a federal judge ruled that their removal violated students' rights. The books were initially removed following executive orders from President Trump and guidance from the Secretary of Defense. The ACLU filed a motion on behalf of students whose First Amendment rights were claimed to be infringed by this removal.
Key Facts
- A federal judge ordered the return of books about race and gender to libraries on military bases in Kentucky, Virginia, Italy, and Japan.
- The removal of nearly 600 books from Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools led to claims of First Amendment violations by 12 students.
- President Trump's executive orders called for the removal of materials promoting "gender ideology and discriminatory equity ideology."
- Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth's memo banned instruction on Critical Race Theory, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), and gender ideology.
- Books covering subjects like sexual identity, racism, and LGBTQ pride were removed from school libraries.
- Events like Black History Month and Holocaust Remembrance Day were canceled at some schools.
- U.S. District Court Judge Patricia Tolliver Giles ruled that the removal of these books had improper political motives and must be reversed.
- The Department of Defense and DoDEA did not respond to a request for comment on the ruling.
