Anna Kelly

Anna Kelly leads Citizens for Decency in Our Schools, a group seeking to remove inappropriate books from Odyssey's school libraries. Lucy Cunningham-Schultz interviews her while investigating what appears to be a campaign against free speech. Anna shows Lucy the disputed books and explains that the group is not trying to silence publishers. Instead, its members want schools to use responsibility and common sense when choosing material for children. Her evidence surprises Lucy and leads to a balanced article presenting both sides of the issue. When the Odyssey Voice refuses to print that fair account, Anna's position helps Lucy recognize the newspaper's own narrow limits on expression. Serious and direct, Anna challenges easy labels and gives Lucy the facts she needs to think independently.