FACT CHECK: No, Viral Video Does Not Show Banned Books In Florida School

Christine Sellers | Fact Check Reporter

A video shared on Twitter purports to show inappropriate books being banned in a Florida school.

Verdict: Misleading

The claim is misleading. The books were disposed of as part of a “normal process of updating materials,” according to the Sun Sentinel.

Fact Check:

Amanda Gorman released a social media statement saying she was “gutted” after her poem, “The Hill We Climb,” was moved to the middle school section of a Miami-Dade school, according to ABC News. Gorman’s poem, which was read at President Joe Biden’s inauguration, and three other books were moved to the middle school section following a parent’s complaint, USA Today reported.

“WATCH THIS VIDEO A Florida public school staff member, risking her job, documented a glimpse of what’s currently happening at her school. The state has come in and removed hundreds of thousands of books from their school library deeming the books’ inappropriate,’ the Twitter video, viewed over two million times, purports. The video shows a female employee and her two male colleagues holding up various books they allege have been banned.

The claim is misleading. The books were disposed of as part of a “normal process of updating materials,” according to the Sun Sentinel. The video stems from McNicol Middle School, the outlet indicated. Allison Ronis, a computer technician at the school, said the books are being removed because they’re “outdated.”

Similarly, John J. Sullivan, the chief communications and legislative affairs officer at the Broward County School District, shared a May 22 Twitter post denying the books were being banned.

“This video is not accurate and is simply a false representation. The State (@EducationFL) has not banned any books @browardschools. The school shown in the video was updating/refreshing its book inventory,” he wrote.

Likewise, the Florida Department of Education has neither referenced the claim via its website nor its social media accounts. In addition, Check Your Fact found no credible news reports suggesting the school was banning books. (RELATED: Did A Florida Judge Ban The Bible?)

Check Your Fact has contacted the Florida Department of Education and the Broward County School District Superintendent for comment and will update this piece accordingly if one is received.

Christine Sellers

Fact Check Reporter

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