The Voice - Student Newspaper

Banned books week

Echoes of controversy, criticism, sexual orientation, were voiced off in the event that took place in front of the Student Union during September 27- October 4 for Banned Books Awareness Week. Ed McKennon the advisor for the event, also Amnesty International club, helped organize the event along with the Glendale Community College library staff.

Students roamed by the site and saw volunteers reading texts from books, poems, and lyrics from bands. Books were laid out for some of the students to acknowledge as books being challenged and considered vulgar. The display showed efforts for the books to become banned.

Some books were even challenged from the elementary school districts, this issue concerning why a family has two mothers that play a role in children's books.

Some students fled by with avoiding eyes, others caught the virus of knowledge that was being spread throughout the event.

Provocative images, quotes, burning of books gave students curiosity to what kind of messages were being outspoken during the event.

Along with the event, petitions were laid out for students to sign. Petitions will be sent to the embassy where prisoners of conscience spoke against their government.

Amnesty International informs their embassy that we look into these cases and let them know we, as students, as individuals, as people, as those who decree change are concerned about their cases.

Club Member Justine Hecht attended a leadership conference in San Francisco to acknowledge Amnesty International Club. People who attended this conference looked at some of the cases that were given time to evaluate again.

These cases imprison people without evidence or support to why they were taken in custody, some with no rights. Most of these "silent" prisoners are journalists.