A Florida police officer stopped a shocked mother from presenting an explicit image she found in a school library book during a board meeting.
Julie Gebhards of Tampa said she was surprised that a school review panel approved the graphic novel “Blankets” after a parent complaint, even though it was full of nudity and detailed descriptions of sexual acts.
After Gebhards advised audience members to leave the room if they were accompanied by children, he described the book’s contents in detail.
“The book also contains rude comments like this: ‘Church camp is the best place to write down p—y,’” he said. “Also: ‘Did you touch his ties?’ It has images of masturbation, naked children urinating on each other, and sexual assault of a child. … I imagine we all feel uncomfortable now.”
At one point, Gebhards showed a large image from the book that showed two young men in bed with a woman’s breasts exposed.
Video of the meeting shows a police officer stationed nearby approaching Gebhards, taking the screen from his hand and placing it on the ground.
Mom Julie Gebhards took exception to a sexually explicit book in Tampa school libraries. Instagram/julie_ann_speaks
Seemingly surprised by the intrusion, Gebhards emphasized that the book had been questioned by Hillsborough County parents, but was later unanimously approved by a seven-person panel at Plant City High School.
“This is in the children’s libraries here in Hillsborough County,” he said. “Approved by that committee unanimously.”
The mother said the volume was clearly inappropriate for school-aged children and included references to “erections, breast fondling, biting, tasting, oral copulation, removing clothing in heated passion, 22 images of the aroused couple, 10 images of “she undresses breasts.”
“This is shameful, vile and degrading,” he told the panel.
A police officer prevented Gebhards from presenting an image from the graphic novel. Instagram/julie_ann_speaks
Board President Nadia Combs quickly moved on to the next public speaker at the end of the two minutes allotted to Gebhards.
“Thank you,” he said. “Next speaker. “No one is allowed to bring exhibits.”
Gebhards continued his speech despite being asked to give up the microphone.
“This is in a book in your classroom library,” he said before leaving the podium.
Gebhards said the book was approved by school staff. Instagram/julie_ann_speaks
He posted a video of his comments on the board on Instagram, generating a flood of dismayed comments.
“The fact that this is happening all over America, and right under the noses of mothers everywhere, is an atrocity,” said one respondent.
Florida law allows parents to formally challenge books made available to students, but those objections are then accepted or rejected by school administrators.
Approximately 2,300 students attend Plant City High School, which counts current Florida Attorney General and close Ron DeSantis ally Ashley Moody as a graduate.
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Source: vtt.edu.vn