The LAPD Today

With all of the violence and fear in Los Angeles during the riots, and the intense police brutality preceding it, I wanted to know if the city has changed for the better since then, and just how bad the LAPD is today. According to Black Lives Matter LA, over 500 black people have been killed in the past six years by officers on duty. The city has been ranked as one of the most dangerous places in accordance to the violence from police, and according to one analysis, police shoot one person every five days on average. One parallel case I found to the King case was with Ryan Twyman—an innocent man shot by 34 police rounds, and had a history of unjust abuses from the police. He was unarmed in a parked car. He was a 24 year old father of three hoping to be a veterinarian, and police profiling and quick judgements took that away from him. The police would repeatedly stop and arrest him before releasing him. In one instance Twyman had a seizure, and the police refused to help him because they said he was on drugs. The LAPD have drifted too far from the mentality of serve and protect, as they should have been doing when they saw Twyman in desperate need of help because of his medical condition. At 7:30 in the evening on June 6th, police sought out Twyman’s parked car and approached it, and shot him with 34 rounds as the car backed up slightly. The reasoning behind their actions was that he was under investigation for illegal weapons possession, but the police found nothing. The police have continued to inject themselves into the family, and even showed up at the funeral. The cops went uncharged and the department quickly gave excuses for the officers’ quick actions.After about 1,500 shootings, only one officer has been charged in the past 20 years. On that same day in LA, five other people were shot by police in different locations. Over and over again people are being killed by the police, and still no justice is served for these families.
So is it getting any better? There’s a 25% decrease in police shootings between this year and last, with 33 people and not 44 killed in 2019. Body cameras and new policies are being instated, as well as additional training. Videos of shootings are released 45 days after the event, now. The LAPD is trying to fix the divide between the black communities and officers, and only time will tell if these new policies will be successful.https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/aug/15/police-shootings-los-angeles-sheriffs-department-ryan-twymanhttps://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-lapd-fatal-shootings-20190416-story.html
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2014/02/lapd-officers-who-shot-103-rounds-two-innocent-women-violated-policy/357728/

Eugenics and Genetics/Evolution

Eugenics, the practice of selectively mating people with specific desirable traits that would be inherited in order to improve the human species. This term was invented in the late 1800s by Francis Galton. Galton studied statistics, psychology, genetics, and more. While studying humans Galton noticed differences in characteristics like a superior intelligence in England’s upper classes. With his information, he assumed these characteristics were inheritable, meaning that these “superior” traits could be passed down to future generations. This idea became popular when Charles Davenport; biologist, and Harry Laughlin; former teacher interested in breeding, advocated for the Eugenics Movement. They studied “undesirable” traits like mental disability, dwarfism, pauperism, promiscuity, and criminality by using family pedigrees. During this time, genetics were well understood due to the work of Gregor Mendel. By working with pea plants, he was able to come to the conclusion that offspring inherit one allele from each parent, meaning that your DNA (which wasn’t discovered yet) is a combination from your parents. This would make sense why people believed “undesirable” traits could be eliminated, but with the science/knowledge understood in today’s world it seems pretty obvious that things like promiscuity and criminality can’t be genetically inherited or determined using a pedigree. It seems like eugenicists didn’t consider the education levels or socioeconomic issues that minorities were facing.

The idea of Eugenics grew to become a social movement, popular in the 1920s and 30s. The American Eugenics Society was founded followed by other groups and societies around the country. The movement concentrated on removing negative traits where they were found in poor, uneducated minority groups. Eugenists essentially forced sterilization to focus on disabled individuals as well as those suffering from poverty, eventually leading to 64,000 Americans forced into sterilization. African American women were often sterilized without consent during other medical procedures.
This idea goes hand in hand with the “modern science” of this time. Charles Darwin’s theory of natural selection explains that inherited differences will affect an individual’s ability to survive and reproduce. Essentially meaning that those with the best genes would reproduce more and pass down “better” traits, creating more offspring that will survive better. The Eugenics movement was in a way artificially creating natural selection. However, instead of allowing time to pass and letting evolution do it’s thing; the only factor that determined if you were “fit to survive” was your race. This allowed powerful white people to use “science” as a means of spreading their racist ideas.

This case was taken to the Supreme Court in 1927, with Buck v. Bell. The court sided in agreement that “society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind...” (Black 2003). However, the Eugenics movement was stopped once the Holocaust occurred in Germany, which left the population terrified.

https://www.nature.com/scitable/forums/genetics-generation/america-s-hidden-history-the-eugenics-movement-123919444/
http://eugenicsarchive.ca/discover/connections/535eee477095aa000000025b

America Hates Black People More Than it Loves Guns

In 1966 in California, it was legal to openly carry loaded guns because of the Gold Rush.  That all changed in 1967.

On May 3, 1967, Governor Ronald Reagan had planned to eat lunch with middle schoolers in Sacramento when two dozen black men and women with rifles, shotguns, and pistols pulled up.  They were the Black Panthers. The Black Panthers were a political party headquartered in Oakland that called for justice, an end to police brutality, and more jobs for blacks. They were part of the overall Black Power movement which celebrated black pride and pushed civil rights.  In Oakland, the Black Panthers started many community programs, such as free breakfast for kids and free health clinics. Armed with loaded weapons, they also monitored police interactions with blacks.

The Black Panthers entered the Capitol building with their guns in the air, criticizing “the racist California Legislature” for “keeping the black people disarmed and powerless.”  Five minutes later, the police arrived, and the Black Panthers handed over their guns and were escorted out. They refused to comment any further.

Because the guns were not pointed at anyone, the demonstration was completely legal.  In fact, the Capitol Police reported that they were unloaded. However, the incident was reported nationally as an “invasion.”  Soon after, a gun control law was passed called the “Panther Bill.” When Reagan signed off on the bill, he proclaimed, “There’s no reason why on the street today a citizen should be carrying loaded weapons.”

Despite advocating for gun use, the NRA actually supported this bill.  They don’t care about the 1,300 children that are killed by guns every year, but they do care about black people having access to guns to protest for equal treatment.  That’s how much they hate black people. They would rather lose money than allow the Black Panthers to protest and monitor police interactions with guns.

Sources:

https://www.sfchronicle.com/opinion/openforum/article/Open-carry-was-legal-until-armed-Black-Panthers-12875998.php

https://www.history.com/topics/civil-rights-movement/black-panthers#section_2

https://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/140/1/e20163486

The Kerner Commission

The Kerner Commission was a 1968 report constituted by President Lyndon Johnson about how the “nation is moving towards two societies, one black, one white–separate and unequal.'' The report gave an explanation to the riots exploding all over the country since 1964: discrimination and segregation. The report encouraged the promotion of racial integration and the creation of jobs and decent housing for African Americans. The report suggested that without a change in course, it will “involve the continuing polarization of the American community and, ultimately, the destruction of basic democratic values”. It also explained the levels of intensity that had led to the riots, the first being police practices.

After the report was released, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in April 1968. Although legislative successes such as the Civil Rights and Voting Rights Acts were in place, there was a divide between African Americans and whites in their daily lives. President Johnson faced major backlash from the polls in 1964 for his views portrayed in the Kerner Commission, some saying that “Johnson was pushing too aggressively”. Despite Johnson’s efforts, the commission was forgotten about when Nixon came into presidency. Even with having the first black president, poverty in African American communities remains. The efforts to end racial inequality has only been scattered throughout  America’s history and racial inequality will continue unless a “radical” approach is taken.

Sources:

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/1968-kerner-commission-got-it-right-nobody-listened-180968318/

http://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6545/

LA Riots: beating the wrong people

Reginald Denny, a white construction truck driver, was beaten nearly to death by a group of black men. 

The riots had a very bad outcome when they started. The people who would be driving on the streets got the worst of it. cars would be beaten up on the roads, people would throw rocks, smash Windows, and even pull people out and beat them up for no reason. 

A man who was driving by in a truck was stopped and pulled out of his truck. Then people started to beat him up for nothing. after the attack, he was blinded in his own blood, trying to grab anything to help him up off the ground. The people who were angry with the court case are attacking people who did nothing, who did not want to be invaded in this madness. Yet the riots lost sight on what they were angry about. People started to steal, people would be beaten up near death, and fires would fill the sky. 

The riots were never about hurting other people, or stealing. They were not about destroying stores, and cars. Not about destroying peoples dreams and hard work. These riots were about cops getting Scot free for a bad crime they have committed. If people are going to riot, then riot on the police, not on people who are just passing by. 

Kerner Commission

He was the Presidents national Advisory Commission on the Civil Disorder.  Kerner released a report to disprove racism as the primary cause of the recent surge of riot. In July 1967 they uncovered the causes of urban riots and recommend solution. The report was that "our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white - separate and unequal." They expanded aid for African American communities so that they would be able to prevent more racial violence and polarization. This report identified more than 150 riots and major disorders between 1965 and 1968.

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/kerner-commission-report-released

Blackface Is More Than Just a Costume

       The recent reveal of Justin Trudeau's use of blackface is sadly not all that surprising. We've heard of these instances time and time again, of well-known figures'  college or high school photos emerging from the yearbooks. But why do people dress-up in blackface and not just stick to costumes? Should blackface be seen as a purely derogatory gesture or one of ignorance? And how do we stop people from doing it?

       Blackface became prevalent in the 1830s. It involved many white actors in the Northern cities. It was less common in Southern areas where there was a greater population of African Americans. The development gave rise to the caricatures of African Americans after the civil war. Among these were "Zip Coon," who was stupid and vain, and "Master Juba,"  performed by William Henry Lane. Thomas Dartmouth Rice dressed up as "Jim Crow," a stereotype of a southern black man. The minstrel would travel across the country to spread his message and popularize the song "Jump Jim Crow". This is likely the reason why the term 'Jim Crow Law' was coined. After the aftermath of the civil war, from Birth of a Nation to Shirley Temple, blackface found itself ingrained in American culture.

   
 
       Going back to Justin Trudeau, it is important to note that while Canada does not have the same history as the US, blackface emerged there soon after it did in the US. Even if Trudeau was ignorant of the history behind blackface, he should have known better. Dressing up as someone doesn't require one to adopt their same skin tone. There are plenty of costumes that are acceptable and do not involve ethnicity or race at all. Blackface has never been about dressing up, but rather as a way to belittle minorities. By educating people on the origins of blackface, people will be less likely to dismiss it as such.

Sources:

• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47125474
• https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49760160
• https://www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a/ralph-northam-and-the-history-of-blackface
• https://nmaahc.si.edu/blog-post/blackface-birth-american-stereotype
• https://www.cnn.com/2019/02/02/us/racist-origins-of-blackface/index.html

Fahrenheit 451

This book was about a society that wasn't allowed to read books. The firemen were the ones supposed to put all the books on fire if they found out people had them. "Guy Montag is a fireman who burns books in a futuristic American city. In Montag’s world, firemen start fires rather than putting them out. The people in this society do not read books, enjoy nature, spend time by themselves, think independently, or have meaningful conversations. Instead, they drive very fast, watch excessive amounts of television on wall-size sets, and listen to the radio"Seashell Radio” sets attached to their ears."https://www.sparknotes.com/lit/451/summary/

CRISPR/cas9

This new gene-editing technology, called CRISPR/cas9 has amazing potential to cure diseases that have no cure, like AIDS and some cancers. CRISPR is becoming very popular among scientists because of the range of possibilities, and just how cheap it is to use. Apart from humans genetics, it has the potential to improve food crops to help end world hunger. All of this has scientists excited, but many are also concerned because CRISPR has the potential to go extremely wrong as well. In human gene editing, CRISPR can increase the risks for certain diseases that could then be inherited by future generations.

How it works is this: think of cas9 as a pair of molecular scissors that cut the DNA, and think of CRISPR as the guiding tool that takes the scissors to the exact position on the target gene to be cut. Once the gene is cut out CRISPR can then insert the desired gene. Although the science is far from perfect, so that no unwanted side effects can occur, like causing cancer while you're trying to cure HIV, later the science is expected to get better and could maybe cure some important diseases in the future.

The big problem with CRISPR/cas9 is an ethical/moral/social one, I think. Right now people are looking at it to cure disease, but there is already some talk about using it to choose certain desirable traits that people want in their children, in the future.  There could be a day when a dominant "race" within the human race arises from this technology, and it will be based on who has the money to pay for it. People could be choosing to edit genes to create babies that are more attractive, taller, smarter, more athletic, and have other special gifts like musical talent. People who have these traits might want to mate with others whose traits have been "idealized," leading to a whole class of people at the "top" with these enhanced features. This is basically using gene editing in the lab to take eugenics to a whole new level. This technology poses a lot of ethical and moral questions. Is this really the kind of society we would want to live in?

Sources:
1. http://www.pharmatimes.com/web_exclusives/the_controversy_over_gene-editing_1274582
2. http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/UKVKRC977488142/OVIC?u=los42754&sid=OVIC&xid=b65b142f
3. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/future-of-food/food-technology-gene-editing/
4.https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-019-1725-0

Did the NFL violate Colin Kaepernick's 1st amendment rights?

     In 2016, NFL Star Colin Kaepernick voiced his concerns of a recurring issue of police brutality and racial oppression going on in the United States by kneeling during the National Anthem prior to an NFL game. Kaepernick was soon boycotted by all 32 NFL teams, and essentially lost his job due to his peaceful protests. The NFL has punished Kaepernick for exercising his right to freedom of expression.



President Donald Trump has urged NFL owners to prohibit players from protesting. 2 years ago, Trump, in a campaign rally in Alabama, urged the team owners to fire any "son of a bitch" player who protested. Our president was calling for owners to boycott players who exercised their 1st amendment right to freedom of expression. In May 2018, the NFL release a new policy requiring players to stand during the National Anthem if they are out on the field. They could sit silently in the locker room, or stand for the National Anthem on the field, so they couldn't kneel to protest.
   
   Many legal experts argue that both Trump and the NFL have violated the 1st amendment rights to freedom of expression and silent protest, of all players who have kneeled during the Anthem. Marc Edelman, a law professor at City University of New York, said that "It's a very bold statement to sue the United States based upon alleged wrongdoing of the sitting president, and filing such a claim might make a player such as Colin Kaepernick into an even more polarizing figure". He also said, "However, based upon the pure black-letter law, a first amendment claim of this nature may have a reasonable chance to succeed".

Sources:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/kaepernick-trump-first-amendment-nfl-national-anthem_n_5b15b680e4b093ac33a0f94c

https://constitutioncenter.org/blog/the-first-amendment-and-restricting-professional-athlete-protests

Cannibal Cop or Horror Novelist?

“Thought Crimes: The Case of the Cannibal Cop” showed us the story and trial of Gilberto Valle, a former police officer for the NYPD. With the given nickname of “cannibal cop” by the media outlets, we would expect Valle to have an unsuccessful future and would only be thought of as a criminal. However, Valle took his fantasies and used them as inspiration for horror novels after his memoir received positive feedback. His first novel, A Gathering of Evil only goes further into the depth of Valle’s fantasies of kidnapping and cannibalism through a sadist group that preys on young women. Valle’s most recent book, The Social Catalogue of #Prey (sequel to A Gathering of Evil) was published this past year in 2019. The continuation of his first book also ties in the danger of social media and the value of privacy. Valle’s books have become recognized all over social media and seem to have a following of fans. Many praise his writing saying, “Nothing shows a horror book succeeding more than when it actually horrifies you”. He defines his fantasies as a “sexual fetish” and “it is something that [he] didn’t choose, and it’s something that [he] lives with and that [he] is fine with”. Valle knows that his novel is not for everyone and is very disturbing for those who do not feel the same way. 

Valle also went to the 2019 CrimeCon in New Orleans. During the conference, he talked about the mistakes he made, the chatroom and how it ruined his marriage. Valle had actually fought to gain custody of his daughter but gave up due to the legal fees. He revealed, “he is ashamed of it all” but defends himself still asking the question, “is not liking me reason enough to have me in prison for the rest of my life?”. Valle’s question relates to the concept of thought crimes, and whether they should be prosecuted without action taken after them. Along with writing his horror novels, Valle works at his friend’s construction company and believes that in the future, he won’t be defined by his mistakes.

Sources:

https://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/ex-nypd-cannibal-releases-extremely-violent-horror-article-1.3745322

https://www.foxnews.com/us/cannibal-cop-pens-very-graphic-horror-novel

https://culturedvultures.com/the-social-catalogue-of-prey-by-gil-valle-and-bridget-lee-review/

https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/cannibal-cop-gilberto-valle-says-he-wants-a-new-life-crimecon

https://www.foxnews.com/us/cannibal-cop-who-ex-wife-fears-is-risk-to-daughter-drops-custody-battle

Football, Free Speech, and Trump Signs

North Stanly High School cheerleaders in North Carolina held up a “Trump 2020” sign at a football game last month.  This violates a school policy that prohibits political material shown in school publications or at school events.  

After a photo of the political display was posted on Facebook, the North Carolina High School Athletic Association put them on “probation” for one year, claiming the display violated their handbook.  However, “probation” is not clearly defined, and the squad is still allowed to cheer. They just were warned not to raise the flag again, as there could be fines or suspensions.

Many took to social media to post in support of the cheerleaders’ 1st amendment right to free speech.  One community member explained, “It is their right as young adults to support whomever they want. I understand this is a football game, but as long as they don't interrupt the game... I don't see an issue with the banner."  Even Representative Richard Hudson (R - NC) tweeted in support of the girls, “As Stanly Co's Congressman, I am concerned our students are being punished for exercising their First Amendment right to free speech.” 

A spokesperson from the school clarified that this policy doesn’t oppose the 1st Amendment because the students represent the school.  Displaying political material could be interpreted as the school endorsing that campaign.

However, right-wing publications took it further.  They were outraged about the “probation,” and even spread false reports that the cheerleaders were banned from football games.  Supporters of the cheerleaders planned a rally outside the football field before the September 20th game. One of the organizers was also a supporter of Proud boys, a right-wing extremist group that partakes in violent protests.

Because of the rally and fears it could become violent, the school postponed the football game until the next day.  They also stated only signs with the school logo would be allowed at the game and that there would be extra police and safety measures, like bag checks and metal detectors.

Thankfully, the rally was peaceful, and the football game ended up being a “routine football game.”  The only sign was the banner the team ran through.

This incident raises the debate about the extent to free speech in public schools.  In Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), the court ruled students do not lose their right to freedom of speech and expression at school.  They found students are allowed to express their political opinions, such as by wearing armbands, as long as it’s not disruptive.  This ruling would protect the cheerleaders displaying a Trump sign.

However, Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988) contradicts this earlier ruling.  In this case, the court ruled schools don’t have to promote student speech that doesn’t conform to their values.  Since North Stanly High School didn’t want to be political, this ruling states it was constitutional for them to restrict the cheerleaders’ 1st Amendment right.  If this case were to go to court, the school would be able to cite Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier (1988). Looking at the history of these types of cases, the school would likely win.

Sources:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cheerleaders-put-on-probation-for-trump-2020-sign-during-north-stanly-high-school-football-game-north-carolina/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cheerleaders-put-on-probation-for-trump-2020-sign-during-north-stanly-high-school-football-game-north-carolina/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/bobcook/2019/09/21/the-fallout-from-cheerleaders-holding-a-trump-2020-sign-and-how-free-speech-enters-into-it/#575ef67f2a79

Cannibalism

Gilberto Valle (Cannibal Cop) didn't actually act on the chats that he had sent about kidnapping and possibly eating women. Although the chats were disgusiting and hard to read, it was all a fantasy to him, which is why he shouldn't get a huge punishment.

However, many serial killers act on cannibalism. For instance, a guy named Jeffrey Dahmer was arrested for the killing and eating of 17 males. Dahmer lured these men to his house by promising money or sex, before strangling them to death. After they were dead, he engaged in sex acts with their bodys and kept body parts and photos as souvenirs. With the last 13 bodies, he began to keep their body parts in the fridge and would eat at their flesh. After getting arrested multiple times, he was finally sentenced to 16 consecutive life terms in prison.

In addition, there was evidence that Valle had thought about kidnapping and killing women, but he claims that it was a fantasy. There was no further evidence that he went through with what he said he was going to do. This follwed his first amendment, free speech, because he has the right to think and say what he wants, as long as it isn't affecting others. I do believe that he deserved some kind of punishment, which he got, because he still engaged in these websites and had the conspiracy of kidnapping. On the other hand, not only did Dahmer have these disgusting thoughts, but he also acted on them. Doctors claim that he was "sane" and knew what he was doing when he murdered these men. This went on for 13 years, so he definitley got the punishment that he deserved. Especially after getting away with smaller crimes that he performed earlier in his life. He went further than his first amendment, by harming other innocent people. I also believe he deserved to die because he harmed so many people in his lifetime and after his 16 years in prison, he was probably going to go out and murder more people.


https://www.biography.com/crime-figure/jeffrey-dahmer

Child Trafficking In Mountain View

I remember as a young girl, I never worried about being kidnapped against my will, and sold on the black market as a part of a large scale sex trafficking business.  Of course, my parents warned me to never talk to strangers because they could leur me in with things like candy and take me away forever. Although I knew these things  I grew up believing that child trafficking only happened in faraway places, where the poverty and crime rates were unproportionally high. Only until fairly recently I had this mindset- thinking that silicon valley was a safe place. The last thing I would've expected to hear was sex trafficking was happening in the city right next to mine. Once I heard people were caught sex trafficking in Mountain View, my whole perspective changed. It's not something that we can just ignore, for it could happen to any of us.

Brother and sister in Mountain View were arrested by the police for bringing Guatemalan families and minors to the United States for forced labor and sexual slavery. Detectives in this case are still looking for additional victims of human trafficking by these siblings. Carlos Garza, 33, and Evelia De Maria Galvez, 41, were arrested on Dec. 20 without incident. Garza is now being suspected of multiple counts of human trafficking. Whereas, Galvez is suspected of being an accessory to this crime. Garza also goes by the names Gabino Galvez and Mynor Tobar.

Many people were affected by this brother and sister. Even after they found some of the victims police still are suspecting multiple are yet to be identified. They're asking anyone who may be a victim of Garza or Galvez to come forward with whatever they have. Please, if anyone knows of someone who went missing around this time- even if you don't think its anything, contact 650-903-6300 to share what you know.

Source:
mercurynews.com/2018/12/28/mountain-view-siblings-arrested-suspected-of-human-trafficking/

White privilege

I remember from a young age my parents ingrained in me the harsh realities of systemic racism. I knew if the police were to pull me over to pull over into a well lit area, and to keep both hands on the wheel at all times. I knew to call a loved one and to keep them on the phone just in case. I knew to narrate my actions to the officer before doing them, and to always move slowly and carefully. Entering into only elementary school, although unaware of the concept of systematic racism I could still see it play out in front of me. I noticed how when talking about the police, my white friends were not given warnings or instructions on how to handle the situation. I noticed how their voices didn't shake with the weight of the same fear I held.  It only began to add up to me as I grew older and continued to see discrepancies between me and my white peers, and began to educate myself. Lucky for you white people, you don't have the same things on your mind as we do.  You will never have to worry like we do of becoming a victim of law enforcement or the system itself. As we have seen happen to our uncles, cousins, friends, or brothers. You will never know what its like to be the statistics you read. It means you never have to worry about how your hair, skin color, or how your cultural accessories could be negatively perceived. White privilege means you get the privilege of living your life unaware, and unbothered simply because of the color of your skin. Its because these things don't directly effect you the same way they do us that you get to live your life ignorantly turning a blind eye. THAT is your privilege.

Banned Books: 1984

In our nation's history, many books have been banned for a variety of reasons. Banned books similar to the Canibal Cop documentary have sparked a debate about thought crimes. One of the most famous banned books is George Orwell's 1984.

The book has been repeatedly banned for it's sexual and political content. Additionally, the book was challenged in court by, Jackson County, Florida, for being pro-communism.

But what made this book so bad? Well, it is set in a dystopian 1984 where the world is run by three huge governments. The government called "big brother" watches your every move. The main character realizes the government is bad and wants to rebel. He is afraid however of the thought police which looks for people who think bad things about the government. This is ironic because the book was later banned as a thought crime so to speak. The novel also contains some sexual content and most agree today that there is nothing wrong with novel and it should not have been banned.


Another book that has been banned is Harry Potter. Catholic schools in Nashville banned it for depictions of witchcraft and wizardry. According to one pastor, the spells in the book are real and reading them could conjure evil spirits. This, however, did not stop the soaring sails of the novels in 2015.

In the end, banning each book only increased its popularity. Similarly, when someone on the internet may take down an embarrassing video it only gets saved and shared even more. If we want to sensor a book but banning it only increases its demand what is a better solution?


https://study.com/academy/lesson/george-orwells-1984-summary-characters-themes-analysis.html
https://www.dorrancepublishing.com/censored-story-five-banned-books/
http://www.bannedlibrary.com/podcast/2016/12/28/nineteen-eighty-four-1984-by-george-orwell
https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2019/09/03/catholic-school-bans-harry-potterbut-according-to-free-speech-advocates-its-nothing-new/#6cbda31b7250