#BannedBooksWeek: Book Banning Beckwith is Running to Be Indiana’s Book-Banner-In-Chief as Lieutenant Governor

This week is #BannedBooksWeek, and Indiana Republicans have nominated the state’s most outspoken figure on restricting the rights of Hoosiers to free expression and reading, Micah Beckwith, to be Indiana’s next lieutenant governor. 

Becwkith’s lone stint in public service came as a member of the Hamilton East Public Library Board between September 2022 and January 2024, during which he pushed to remove hundreds of books from the teen to adult section, including works by Judy Blume and Hoosier author John Green. 

“Banned Books Week is a reminder of Micah Beckwith’s dangerous censorship policies as a library board member in Hamilton County,” said Indiana Democratic Party Chair Mike Schmuhl. “Hoosiers deserve to hear how his policies led to chaos on the board and pushback from community members, educators, and parents. If elected as LG, Book Banning Beckwith would make book banning policies a cornerstone of his legislative agenda and drag the discussion at the Statehouse away from issues that matter like childcare, healthcare, and school funding.”

Book Banning Beckwith’s censorship policies only led to chaos and confusion for residents in Fishers, with the conservative members of the board being pushed out by public pressure, and the policy being resincined in less than a year.

John Green even wrote a letter to HEPL board members, which brought national attention to the policies being pushed by Beckwith. Make no mistake: if he is Indiana’s next LG, he will use the office to push a statewide book banning policy on Hoosier schools and libraries.

Green called Beckwith and the board’s moves “political theater of the lowest and most embarrassing order,” by reshelving books written for teenagers that had won national awards.

Many Hamilton County students felt left out of the process, and that this policy took away parents’ rights to decide what was best for their child.