About Us

Unlock Minds Embrace Voices was created in 2023 by high school student David Liebowitz. While enrolled in his public K-8 school, David witnessed firsthand the effects of Florida’s law, which allows parents and residents to challenge and remove books they find objectionable. After 12 years of teaching To Kill a Mockingbird, an eighth-grade teacher dropped it from the curriculum at a parent’s request. Surprised by one parent’s power to alter classroom curriculum under Florida’s 2022 House Bill 1467, David decided to research the differing viewpoints surrounding the law. David spoke with librarians, consulted English teachers, and read articles, discovering valid arguments on both sides of the law, as well as a shared concern: the desire to protect children. During David’s freshman year, motivated by the rising number of book challenges he witnessed, he came up with the idea of creating an event that celebrates books: Unlock Minds, Embrace Voices. He’s held this event for three consecutive years, both in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties. His dedication to protecting the freedom to read earned him a Proclamation by Broward County Vice Mayor Beam Furr in 2024. Each year, large, multigenerational groups gather to celebrate diverse perspectives, empathy, and the freedom to read. 

According to the American Library

Association (ALA), in 2024, the number

of titles challenged increased by

798% compared to 2020. The data

reveals attempts to censor 2,452

distinct book titles across schools and

libraries. The ALA's Office for

Intellectual Freedom documented 821

requests to censor library books,

materials, and resources in 2024.

Furthermore, research shows that

elected officials, board members,

administrators, and advocacy groups

were responsible for 72% of book

censorship demands in school and

public libraries.

Limiting students’ access to literature

that some may find inappropriate

prevents them from encountering

significant works, including works by

authors like Hermann Hesse, Aldous

Huxley, John Milton, Toni Morrison, and

Ayn Rand. Students would be deprived

of the chance to develop essential skills

such as critical thinking, writing, and

media literacy, skills that are valuable

for their future. Protecting students

from difficult and potentially

controversial content in high school

could leave them less prepared for

college and adulthood.