587. Amanda Jones, Library Defender, Part 1.

Louisiana Anthology Podcast

587. The first part of our conversation with Library defender Amanda Jones, author of That Librarian. Amanda served as an educator in Louisiana for over twenty years. Jones had long been a vocal opponent to book censorship, arguing that book challenges have disproportionally targeted books with LGBTQ or BIPOC themes, characters, or authors. In July 2022, Jones spoke publicly against book censorship at a Livingston Parish Public Library Board meeting. After the meeting, multiple conservative organizations posted about Jones on their websites and social media pages. In 2022, Jones helped to create Louisiana Citizens Against Censorship, an organization in which she is executive director, as well as the Livingston Parish Library Alliance. Jones has lobbied against censorship legislation in Louisiana, specifically Louisiana Senate Bill 7 in 2023, to limit access to minors of material with "sexual conduct," and House Bills 414 and 545 in 2024, which would apply state obscenity law to libraries. The former was signed into law in June 2023.

1. Now available: Liberty in Louisiana: A Comedy. The oldest play about Louisiana, author James Workman wrote it as a celebration of the Louisiana Purchase. Now it is back in print for the first time in 220 years. Order your copy today!
   
2. This week in Louisiana history. August 17, 1969. Hurricane "Camile" hits near mouth of Miss. River, $322 million in damages.
3. This week in New Orleans history. August 17, 1969. Hurricane Camille was the third and strongest tropical cyclone and second hurricane during the 1969 Atlantic hurricane season. Estimates put sustained winds around 175 miles per hour. By central pressure and winds, Camille was the second strongest U.S. landfalling hurricane in recorded history, second only to the Labor Day Hurricane in 1935.
   
4. This week in Louisiana.
   42^nd Annual Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival
   August 31, 2024
   Yambillee Ag. Center
   1939 W Landry St.
   Opelousas, LA 70570
   [phone]
   [e-mail]
   Opelousas is the Zydeco Music Capital of the World and home to one of the biggest zydeco music celebrations, the Original Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival. In 1981, there was a real fear that Creole and zydeco music was dying out. To combat this, a group of concerned citizens organized the Southwest Louisiana Zydeco Music Festival. Today, the event features the best performers in zydeco. Swamp-pop, swing, R&B, and southern soul enjoyers will also have a great time. It’s the perfect event to dance to your favorite zydeco musicians. It’s the perfect event to dance to your favorite zydeco musicians. You can also grab authentic plate lunches and Creole cuisine.
   Gates open at 11am, but the music starts at 12pm.
   Admission is $25 for adults and $5 for kids 12 and under.
   RV Parking is $10/day (no electricity).
   No coolers allowed. No glass containers. No BBQ pits. No open flame burners.
   
5. Postcards from Louisiana. Tiffany Pollack & Co. sing at the French Quarter Fest.

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