New State and Local Battles: NC Expands Challenge Rules, Peoria and Arizona Remove Classics Under Anti-DEI

North Carolina passed a law allowing non-residents to file book challenges and making decisions district-wide, potentially amplifying organized efforts. In Peoria, IL, parents are questioning the removal of classic texts like Frederick Douglass and A Raisin in the Sun under an anti-DEI policy; the school board is split, with some blaming age-appropriateness and others acknowledging policy flaws; the NAACP has escalated the issue. Now an Arizona school district has also removed 'A Raisin in the Sun' and 'Summer of the Mariposas' (Latino mythology), reinforcing the pattern of targeting diverse authors under anti-DEI pretexts.