10/13/2026
Defying a wave of censorship, Central Bucks School Board President Karen Smith delivered an unforgettable rebuke to book banners.
Forgoing the traditional Bible, the Pennsylvania official placed her hand on a stack of challenged and banned literature to take her oath of office.
Her selection—which included Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye and Elie Wiesel’s Night—consisted of titles directly targeted by the district's previous, restrictive policies.
Karen Smith’s act marked a massive ideological shift. By securing a new majority that defeated candidates backed by national extremist groups, she successfully flipped control of the board to protect marginalized voices.
Instead of swearing on a religious text, she used the very words critics tried to silence to champion students’ absolute freedom to read, sending a powerful message that the war on literature ends here.
