Claiming that the book is pornographic, a San Diego parent has filed a complaint with the city's school district in an attempt to get Always Running: La Vida Loca: Gang Days in L.A. removed from school-library shelves. “I'm not a censor,” the Associated Press quoted Martin Rogers as saying to the school board January 26. “This is about common sense.”
The award-winning autobiography by Luis Rodriguez about street life in a Los Angeles barrio has been praised by critics for its depiction of urban struggles. It has also drawn fire across the country from activists claiming it glorifies drug use, violence, and sex.
The book remains off limits to students until a review by a committee of teachers, librarians, school administrators, and parents is completed.