DeSantis Responds to Claims About Florida’s Book Policies

California lawmakers have been vocal about Florida’s approach to book bans, but Governor Ron DeSantis was quick to address inaccuracies in their statements.

Senator Scott Wiener, in a social media post, claimed that “Anne Frank’s Diary” was banned in Florida. This assertion was quickly refuted by community notes.

“Another lie has been revealed.”

Wiener added, “By banning Anne Frank’s diary, Florida tells us everything you need to know about the Magazine movement.” However, it turns out that well-known books like this one aren’t blacklisted and are, in fact, included in the state curriculum’s recommended reading list. DeSantis supporter Christina Pushaw responded, saying, “This is just a lie. Not only is Anne Frank’s diary not ‘banned’ in Florida, it is also on @educationfl’s recommended reading list.”

DeSantis himself later reiterated this point, stating, “This is not the first time the Left has accused Florida of ‘banning’ books on the state’s recommended reading list. Another lie has been revealed.” He shared this message on social media.

Previously, various outlets incorrectly reported that a Miami school library had banned a book by poet Amanda Gorman, who notably read a work during President Biden’s inauguration.

Despite being debunked by DeSantis and cleared up by Snopes, misinformation about these bans persisted.

It’s possible Wiener might have confused “Anne Frank’s Diary” with “Annexation” by Sharon Dogar, which has been removed from at least one Florida school district.

Wiener has a history of proposing progressive policies in the California Legislature, including a 2022 law that would permit minors to receive vaccinations without parental consent. This year, he has supported measures that embed “gender affirmation” into state laws, influencing custody cases where a child’s transition is involved.