Shameful Book Banning in Rockford, Illinois

Luis J. Rodriguez, a member of the Chicago Local of the National Writers Union, is a distinguished poet and book author who works as a peacemaker among Chicago's inner city gangs. Rodriguez is well qualified to do this, and is someone who understands these kids and who can reach them in their own language. Luis, the son of Mexican immigrants, was at 12 a veteran of East Los Angeles gang warfare. When Luis became concerned that his own son was becoming involved in gang culture, he set out to tell his son his own story, and this story evolved into a beautifully written and powerful book called Always Running. The book was written because its author didn't "want to see children killed anymore." Always Running won the Carl Sandburg Literary Arts Award and also was lavishly praised by Jonathan Kozol, The New York Times, The Washington Post, and The National Catholic Reporter.

Always Running contains honest descriptions of poverty in America, racism, police brutality, and the failure of our educational system to serve children in need. Not surprisingly, it has become a target of the theocratic right who want the book banned. On June 11, 1996, in Rockford, Illinois, partly as a result of a campaign by a local columnist named Judy Howard (affiliated with a far right organization called Citizens for Excellence in Education) the Rockford School Board voted to pull the book off library shelves in the Rockford School District.

The vote was 4-3. During the discussion, board-member David Strommer called Always Running "irreligious, anti- family left-wing, anti-American and radical...What's in the book is harmful, ungodly and wrong." Fellow board member Ed Sharp said, "I challenge anyone who knows how the mind works, after reading this book, not to be more likely to assume the lifestyle of a gang person and not to be more likely to have sex in the back of a car." Strommer and Sharp were joined in the vote to ban the book by Carol Bell and Bill Neblock. Voting to retain the book were Linda Griffin, Jim Wigner and Judy Picus.

The Protest

Nationwide, people who care about education were horrified at the disgraceful and unconstitutional action of the Rockford School board. Letters of protest were sent to Rockford School Superintendent Ronald Epps by:

The poet Richard Vargas, Poetry Editor of the Rock River Times in Rockford, Illinois, has written some wonderful columns about the banning of Always Running. I sent him this letter concerning Citizens for Excellence in Education, and Richard published my letter in The Rock River Times.

The Book Banners Respond

Dr. Robert L. Simonds responds to my letter to Richard Vargas.
Ed Sharp responds to the letter from the Chicago Local. This letter is a must read. I've left in all the errors of spelling, punctuation, syntax, grammar, etc. I even left in his date error. Sharp makes clear in his final sentence that he believes that not only should he have the power to decide what our children should read, he feels he should have the power to decide what we should be allowed to read as well.

I confess I have a certain admiration for Ed Sharp. I've encountered so many censors who say, "I don't believe in censorship but..." that it's refreshing to meet one who is honest enough to come right out and say that he thinks book-banning is a good idea. Also, Sharp at least had the courtesy to reply to a letter of protest.

Superintendent Epps thus far has not replied, but we have some reason to hope we may hear from him presently. If you'd like your voice added to the protest, send Superintendent Epps your own letter. If you'd like your message linked to this web site, email me a copy (or a URL to link) at kyp@ultranet.com. Epp's address is:

Dr. Ronald Epps, Superintendent
Rockford School District
201 South Madison Street
Rockford IL 61104