The September 11 Clark County School District (CCSD) board meeting once again put the spotlight on a heated fight: which books belong in school libraries.
But for Yadusha Jones with Moms for Liberty, the issue couldn’t be more straightforward. Nevada News & Views contributor Erica Neely interviewed Jones following the meeting.
Members of Moms for Liberty after the Sep. 11 CCSD Board Meeting
“There Are Perverts in the Libraries”
When asked why she came to the meeting, she didn’t hesitate.
“There are perverts in the libraries,” she said.
For her, the debate isn’t about erasing history or banning books for the sake of control.
It’s about what kinds of material are being made available to students – sometimes without parents even knowing.
The Bible Accusation
In a viral video leading up to the meeting, Moms for Liberty faced accusations that they wanted to ban the Bible from CCSD schools. She pushed back strongly.
“That’s incorrect. We don’t ban books, period, and we do not ban Bibles,” she said.
What they do oppose, she explained, are books she describes as pornographic or dangerous.
“Books That Teach Kids How to Slit Their Wrist”
She pointed to one of the most controversial titles now on CCSD shelves: Flamer by Mike Curato.
“They have pornographic books, and they have books that teach kids how to slit their wrist to completion inside the schools,” she said.
Worse, she argued, these books are being promoted under the cover of diversity.
“The librarians are pushing it on minority students to advocate for the LGBT community,” she said.
“They’re using the black and brown community to advocate for these types of books, and it’s unwanted.”
A System Failing Students
For her, the problem with inappropriate books is tied directly to the district’s overall failure in education.
Nevada consistently ranks at or near the bottom in national reports. CCSD is the fifth-largest school district in the country, but she says it delivers the weakest results.
“We’re already 50th in the nation. Some would say 47. Would you say that we’re fighting for first to be the first in suicide, the first for bad education?” Erica asked.
“Absolutely,” she said. “We’re actually the 51st with the worst education. A lot of people don’t take into account Washington, D.C., but we are the 51st with the worst education in the United States of America. Why do we have the most students, but we have the worst education?”
Members of Moms for Liberty and Dads for Liberty after the Sep. 11 CCSD Board Meeting
The Larger Debate
Her comments stood in sharp contrast to those from librarians like Nichole Beer, who defended keeping Flamer and other titles on shelves, calling their removal censorship.
Advocacy groups such as Showing Up for Racial Justice Las Vegas (SURJ LV) also weighed in, arguing that restricting access to books narrows students’ worldview and limits understanding of diverse experiences.
But for parents like this Moms for Liberty representative, the issue is not censorship – it’s protection.
Protecting, Not Banning
She made clear that parents aren’t asking to eliminate entire categories of books. They simply want a say in what’s appropriate for children.
“We don’t ban books,” she repeated. “We want to stop pornographic or dangerous material from being pushed on kids.”
For her, and many parents like her, the CCSD book debate boils down to one question:
Are schools going to stand with families in protecting students, or side with activists who believe no limits should apply?
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
