Florida’s controversial book censorship law, a measure widely used to pull Assassination Classroom and other popular anime and manga from school shelves, has been struck down by a federal judge on First Amendment grounds. Originally signed in 2022 and expanded in 2023, the law required school libraries to remove materials deemed “obscene” and allowed any Florida resident—regardless of county—to demand the removal of remaining titles.
The law triggered a wave of challenges across the state. Free-speech watchdogs have tracked nearly 5,000 book bans in Florida, the highest total in the country. Assassination Classroom became an early flashpoint, but it was just one of many manga and young adult titles swept up in the broader crackdown.
Criticism came from multiple directions. Opponents argued the measure chilled free expression and student access to literature, while a separate provision restricting classroom instruction on LGBT+ topics drew the “Don’t Say Gay” label from activists. By late 2024, conservative organizers associated with Moms for Liberty were calling for the removal of all manga and light novels from school and public libraries, intensifying the fight over what students can read.
Florida’s effort also mirrors a broader national trend. In several conservative-leaning states, including Texas and North Carolina, activists and lawmakers have pursued stricter controls on anime and manga. Some proposals in Texas even sought to criminalize the possession of certain series, with titles like Goblin Slayer cited by proponents.
Governor Ron DeSantis has vowed to appeal the ruling, potentially taking the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. The decision to overturn the law was issued by Judge Carlos Mendoza, a federal judge appointed during the Obama administration. With a more conservative Supreme Court now in place, the final outcome is uncertain—and the debate over student access to books, free speech in schools, and how communities define “obscenity” is far from over.
What this means for Florida’s schools and libraries is immediate but evolving. The ruling undercuts a statewide framework that allowed sweeping challenges, and it may lead to the reinstatement of previously removed titles. Yet, as an appeal advances, districts, parents, and students remain in limbo—caught between legal uncertainty and a cultural battle over what belongs on the shelf.
