(Des Moines) Attorneys representing Iowa teachers, students, and advocacy groups filed a new request in federal court.
The request is to block a recently enacted Iowa law that has led to the removal of numerous books from public schools. The law bans books with specific content and has been criticized for its vague language and potential harm to students. The plaintiffs argue that the law infringes on First Amendment rights and negatively impacts the mental health and safety of students.
Iowa’s Attorney General maintains that the law protects children and supports parental rights.
Meanwhile, at least three organizations, including the ACLU of Iowa, are suing to block parts of the parental rights law. The newest suit seeks to block bans on the teaching of sexual orientation and gender identity for k-6 students. The suit also objects to a provision requiring schools to tell parents if a child requests a name or pronoun change.
The group tried to block other parts of the law in a lawsuit last year. The group got an injunction against the law last year, but the Iowa Court of Appeals overturned it, sending it back to the district court.
