We, the undersigned members of the community, staunchly oppose any attempts to censor literature and restrict access to diverse voices in our public library. We believe in upholding the principles of intellectual freedom and defending the rights of individuals to access information without censorship or restriction.

The recent petition to move the book "All Boys Aren't Blue" by George M. Johnson out of the teen and young adult collection of the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library is a direct assault on these principles. This book, like many others, provides invaluable perspectives and insights for young adults navigating issues of identity, diversity, and acceptance.

We adamantly reject the notion that a small group of individuals should dictate what is considered "age-appropriate" for our community. Libraries serve as bastions of knowledge and enlightenment, fostering critical thinking and encouraging exploration of diverse perspectives. They are not platforms for censorship or narrow-mindedness.

Furthermore, we support the decision of the library's board of trustees to uphold the inclusion of "All Boys Aren't Blue" in the teen and young adult collection. We commend their commitment to intellectual freedom and their refusal to bow to pressure from those seeking to impose their personal beliefs on the community.

We the undersigned, believe every library board member should affirm that they are upholding their role and responsibilities as trustees in accordance with ALA, MLA, and ACL standards and policies. If they are unable to do so, they should step down immediately. Additionally, once a book has been assessed and cleared after a reconsideration request, it should be ineligible to be challenged again for 5 years. 

In conclusion, we call on the board of trustees of the Alpena County George N. Fletcher Public Library to stand firm in their defense of intellectual freedom and reject any attempts to censor or restrict access to literature. We urge them to continue to support the diversity of voices represented in our library and uphold the fundamental right of every individual to explore and engage with a wide range of ideas and perspectives.