By Sergio Berrueta
Banned Books Week, which runs from Sept. 21 to 27, celebrated works of literature that have been challenged or banned by local libraries.
Books such as “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings” by Maya Angelou, “To Kill A Mockingbird” by Harper Lee and the “Harry Potter” series by J.K. Rowling are a select few of the overall 100 list of books challenged for removal in the past ten years.
This week allows readers to uncover the content that made these work controversial while also acknowledging the impact each book has left in their wake.
“The list of books that people have tried to ban is amazing, sometimes almost funny,” English instructor Bill Cushing said. “However, the fact that people try to suppress free expression is not—especially when considering some of the reasons behind such actions.”
Librarian Gabriela Lopez of the South Gate Educational Center decorated an area within the library covered in caution tape highlighting selected books from the Banned Books list.