A librarian’s lawsuit and the ensuing controversy drew hundreds of parents to the Roxbury BOE meeting on Tuesday evening, Save Jerseyans, and at time the gathering more closely resembled a contested political convention than a public meeting.
“Parents are responsible for their children and if they want these books for their children, they can just order the books for them,” said Ruby Sanders, one of the attendees at the raucous meeting. “Children do not need exposure to books that include these graphic drawings, naked adults with other adults performing sexual acts, speaking in sexual dialogue. Why are children being exposed to this?”
“This is about protecting and defending children’s innocence and removing over-the top sexually explicit materials where minors attend,” said Cassie Anderson, another attendee, as on-site security surveyed the crowd.
Ultimately, as the evening drug on and the crowd thinned, the school board defeated a motion to temporarily remove a handful of books by a 6-4 margin while a special library committee continued its analysis of several books challenged by concerned parents.
NJ Spotlight posted some video (watch below):
