Citizens Defending Freedom - Osceola County is challenging a graphic novel series titled “Assassination Classroom,” which depicts violent imagery of students killing their teacher, along with sexually explicit content and age-inappropriate language.
***Documentation from the book challenge can be found here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1CNRoNYj9FQifs6W1eLTHUUDHGf-EeLS0/view?usp=sharing***
OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — A chapter of a Florida nonprofit organization that helps citizens defend their faith and freedom says that the Osceola County School District acknowledged that a series of books it makes available for children are suitable only for young adults, but refused to pull the books from the shelves.
Citizens Defending Freedom Members in Osceola County are challenging the appropriateness of “Assassination Classroom,” a graphic novel series in which students are tasked with killing their alien teacher, and asking for the series to be removed from the Liberty High School Library.
The group filed for challenges to the books via the School Library Media Advisory Committee.
One of the questions on the form, which was completed by the Media Advisory Committee and returned in response to the challenge, asks, “Is there a preoccupation with sex, violence, cruelty, brutality, and aberrant behavior that would make this material inappropriate for children?”
The School Library Media Advisory Committee answered “Yes” to that question.
Still, the School Library Media Advisory Committee said the books will remain on the shelf, deciding that they were suitable for “young adults.”
In an email to school officials, Citizens Defending Freedom executive director of Osceola County, Chris Fontenot, sent an email to school leadership asking them why books that are suitable for “young adults” would be made available to high-schoolers, most of whom are still children. Fontenot also said that Citizens Defending Freedom plans to appeal the ruling.
Citizens Defending Freedom is no stranger to “Assassination Classroom.”
The group is already challenging the books across the state, asking that they be removed from school libraries.
According to an analysis by Citizens Defending Freedom members, the books contain “explicit violence, mild profanity and sexual activities.”
For example, one illustration in one of the books depicts a group of students aiming guns at their teacher, who appears to be an alien. Other depictions show students pointing weapons with captions such as “GET READY,” and “F-I-I-I-R-E.”
After failing to kill the teacher, and after launching a firestorm of bullets, one student says, “ALL THOSE BULLETS … AND WE MISSED!?” while two other students say “WE’RE ASSASSINS AND OUR TARGET IS” … “OUR TEACHER.”
BookLooks Review rates the series as “Minor Restricted.”
Meanwhile, the books contain sexually graphic imagery, too.
Along with several references to “boobs,” female characters are shown wearing lingerie and bikinis, including one graphic with a photo zoomed in on breasts covered only by a small bra. The series also makes several references to pornographic magazines.
Citizens Defending Freedom State Director Sarah Calamunci says that violence and sexual content has no place in school libraries.
“The fact is that these books have mature themes, including violence and hyper-sexuality,” Calamunci said. “The Osceola County School District even acknowledges that the books contain mature content. I’m not sure how the school district can justify its position that they are not suitable for children, while letting them remain on the shelves. Citizens Defending Freedom will continue to hold public schools accountable and challenge books that violate statute and are harmful to minors. Children should be protected and safe from violence and sexual content while at school.
Founded in 2021, Citizens Defending Freedom is a non-profit organization that strategically employs county-level chapters across America to help citizens defend their faith and freedom, all while fighting for transparency in local government. Currently, Citizens Defending Freedom has official chapters in Florida, Georgia and Texas. The group is rapidly expanding its footprint, and expects to grow into one of America’s largest political nonprofits. Click here to learn more about Citizens Defending Freedom.