A Video Report Of The Librotraficante Banned Book Caravan

By Tia Tenopia

In 2011, the Arizona State Legislature passed HB 2281, a law which prohibits schools from offering courses at any grade level that advocate ethnic solidarity, promote overthrow of the US government, or cater to specific ethnic groups. The law effectively dismantles the state’s popular Mexican-American studies programs. Half of the children in Arizona schools are Mexican American. To comply, the Tucson Unified School District took all books on the reading lists of ethnic studies classes out of the classroom–banning books by some of the most celebrated Latino authors (and Shakespeare!).

In response, Texas-based educator and social activist Tony Díaz launched a campaign to bring the banned books to the children of Tucson–the librotraficantes (book smugglers) banned book caravan.

Latinopia’s Jesús Treviño went along and filmed this historic caravan. This is the first of several video reports of the caravan’s effort to affirm American freedom of expression and preserve Latino culture in America. This video was filmed by Jesús Treviño in collaboration with Carlos Calbillo of Houston, Texas and Michael Sedano of the Latino literary blog La Bloga.