Sarasota, FL – Earlier today, the New College of Florida dumped hundreds of library books in a landfill, sparking outrage across the state. Local news outlets have reported that the public university opted to dump books that discussed LGBTQ+ topics and religious studies rather than offer the books for purchase to students or other academic institutions. This brazen act of censorship is a stark reminder of the dangerous path we tread when academic freedom is sacrificed on the altar of political expediency.
Bacardi Jackson, executive director of the ACLU of Florida, responded with the following:
“We vehemently condemn the reprehensible actions taken by New College of Florida, where hundreds of library books—including those concerning LGBTQ+ studies—have been unceremoniously discarded, destined for a landfill. This is not merely an administrative oversight; it is an intentional act of censorship that strikes at the heart of our democratic values and the very purpose of education.
“The dumping of these books is more than just the disposal of outdated materials. It is a clear and dangerous signal of the extent to which political interference is poisoning our educational institutions. This isn’t just an attack on academic freedom—it is an all-out assault on the right to free expression, the free exchange of ideas, and the intellectual autonomy that our colleges and universities must protect at all costs.
“These actions are nothing short of a cultural purge, reminiscent of some of history’s darkest times, where regimes sought to control thought by burning books and erasing knowledge. The fact that these books—sources of wisdom, diverse perspectives, and the narratives of marginalized communities—were discarded in the dead of night, without transparency, and without giving students the opportunity to preserve them, should outrage every Floridian and every American who values democracy and free thought.
“Let us be clear: when politicians dictate what can and cannot be read, studied, or discussed in our classrooms, we lose more than books—we lose our freedom. We lose the opportunity to engage with ideas that challenge us, to empathize with experiences different from our own, and to develop the critical thinking skills that are essential in a healthy democracy. The decision to destroy these books, particularly those from the Gender and Diversity Center, is a direct attack on the voices of LGBTQ+ individuals and others who have historically been marginalized and silenced.
“Amy Reid, faculty chair and representative on the board of trustees, rightly observed, ‘When you throw away books, you also throw away democracy.’ This is not hyperbole. The systematic dismantling of academic resources, coupled with the political suppression of diverse perspectives, is an affront to the foundational principles of our nation. Florida’s education system should be a beacon of enlightenment, not a battleground for ideological warfare.
“We demand immediate accountability from New College of Florida’s administration. We call on educational leaders across the state to resist these authoritarian tactics and to stand firm in defending the integrity of our educational institutions. The removal and destruction of these books is not just a loss for the students of New College—it is a loss for us all.
“We urge every concerned citizen, educator, and student to speak out against this act of censorship. We must not allow a handful of politicians to dictate what knowledge is accessible, what histories are preserved, and what voices are heard. The fight for academic freedom and the right to free expression in Florida is far from over, and we will not stand by silently as these fundamental rights are trampled.
“Unfettered access to information, in whatever form or medium, is a core function of a democracy. Destruction of literature is an affront to that freedom. Students have a right to learn, and no one should deny that freedom.”
