This is an opinion cartoon.

My colleague, AL.com journalist Williesha Morris has done impeccable work in straight-arrow, factual reporting of the Alabama libraries book ban challenges issue. Please, read the comprehensive overview of her work in the latest story:

Inside the blistering battle over Alabama libraries: ‘Burn the freaking books’ – al.com

Unfortunately, as an opinion cartoonist and half-ass columnist, I don’t have to abide by the same code of conduct as my polite professional colleague, Ms. Morris.

Alabama libraries are under fire by a bunch of rabid right-wing modern day witch burners. No surprise. It’s another example of Alabama politics at its worst. Political fear mongering, paranoia and ignorance fuels this firestorm.

The villains represented in this cartoon are (L-R): Clean Up Alabama, Moms for Liberty, Eagle Forum, Gov. Kay Ivey and State Sen. Chris Elliott. (You’re welcome, y’all.) Others, such as Alabama GOP Party chair/Alabama Public Library Service board member, John Wahl, 1819 News guy Bryan Dawson and Alabama AG Steve Marshall are crouching behind the burning stake.

Here are a few excerpts from Morris’s story:

“After opening in prayer at a church about 15 miles northwest of the state capital, panelists spoke of pornography in libraries, calling library board members cowards for not doing their jobs.

“Then the leader of a political website remarked about book challenges in Alabama’s public libraries.

“Burn the freaking books,” said Bryan Dawson, the president of 1819 News, a website that publishes articles and conservative political commentary. “Burn them. I don’t care.”

Which books get challenged in Alabama libraries? See the list.

“The group behind many recent book challenges across the state is Clean Up Alabama, a nonprofit that first formed in Prattville, a city northwest of Montgomery. The group last fall hosted a forum titled “Fighting to End the Sexualization of Children in Libraries,” where Dawson suggested burning books that are included on Clean Up Alabama’s list of inappropriate books, a recording of the event shows.”

“Gov. Kay Ivey threatened to defund libraries that expose children to “inappropriate” materials. Months later, Steve Marshall, the attorney general of Alabama, affirmed that the state’s public library service can withhold funding from local libraries.”

“Some librarians moved young adult books to the adult section, a move that qualifies as censorship, according to library advocacy organizations. One library in north Alabama even flagged a book for removal because the author’s last name is Gay.”

LeVar Burton addresses book flagged by Alabama library because author’s last name is ‘Gay’ – al.com

“Read Me a Story, Stella,” the children’s book by Canadian author Marie-Louise Gay, found its way onto that list because of the author’s last name, sparking national headlines and jokes on late-night talk shows. Months later, LeVar Burton, the longtime Reading Rainbow host, mentioned the snafu in “Banned Book Rainbow,” a parody sketch on Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

“When 55 books were challenged in Fairhope, the community packed public meetings in protest.

“This is a form of censorship,” said library board chair Anne Johnson during one crowded city council meeting in September. “There are young people in our community who may be struggling with their identity, with the teen years, who may not have a support system at home, or at school or at their church, who may be being bullied or even suicidal. And we may have books in the library that can help get them through a difficult period. No one person or group has the right to dictate what books and information others have access to.”

“I think that what Clean Up Alabama has done is they have made people afraid of something that is not even happening,” said Prattville resident Angie Hayden, who helped create the group Read Freely Alabama to combat book challenges.”

“Library critics, without evidence, have even suggested that librarians are distributing sex toys and pornographic magazines to children. At Clean Up Alabama’s “sexualization of children” forum, Dawson said he’d prefer Playboy magazines over current library offerings. Dawson did not respond to requests for comment from AL.com.”

“The debate over library books has become so sensitive that Gov. Ivey has weighed in and threatened to cut state funding if changes weren’t made to ensure that local libraries don’t expose children to inappropriate materials.”

Read all of Williesha Morris’s report here.

More stories about censorship and Alabama libraries

Amish romance books, Rush Limbaugh under review after complaints to Alabama library agency – al.com

Alabama library updates book policy after challenges: ‘No one is grooming children’ – al.com

Alabama’s inappropriate book list may not help local staff make decisions: Librarian – al.com

More cartoons by JD Crowe

GOP owns this IVF minefield: Theocracy is a dangerous playground – al.com

Vote ‘frozen embryo’ for Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice – al.com

Steve Marshall’s law: Alabama’s war against diversity – al.com

Latest Alabama star in transfer portal hits Nick Saban hard – al.com

True stories and stuff by JD Crowe

The mysterious ‘Bubble Guy’ of Fairhope and the art of bubble Zen – al.com

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I was ZZ Top’s drummer for a night and got kidnapped by groupies

Check out more cartoons and stuff by JD Crowe

JD Crowe is the cartoonist for Alabama Media Group and AL.com. He won the RFK Human Rights Award for Editorial Cartoons in 2020. In 2018, he was awarded the Rex Babin Memorial Award for local and state cartoons by the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists. Follow JD on Facebook, Twitter @Crowejam and Instagram @JDCrowepix. Give him a holler @[email protected].

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