Last month, it was reported that conservative provocateur and Breitbart editor Milo Yiannopoulos was given a $250,000 book deal by Simon and Schuster and that his upcoming book, ‘Dangerous,’ would be released in March.

Considering the controversial nature of Yiannopoulos, who was banned from Twitter last year for directing online harassment to comedian Leslie Jones, it didn’t take long for there to be outrage over the announcement of the deal. In fact, Jones herself told the publisher they were helping spread hate for publishing his book. Meanwhile, Simon and Schuster has defended their decision.

Well, it now appears that a large group of authors of children’s books have sent a letter to the publisher protesting the publication of a book by “hate-monger Milo Yiannopoulos.” In the letter, they noted Milo’s connection to the alt-right.

Threshold has placed Simon & Schuster’s considerable reputation and weight behind one of the most prominent faces of the newly repackaged white supremacist/white nationalist movement and financially supported a man who routinely denigrates, verbally attacks, and directs dangerous internet doxxing and hate campaigns against women, minorities, LGBTQ individuals, Muslims, and anyone he chooses to target who supports equality and human decency. Irrespective of the content of this book, by extending a mainstream publication contract, Threshold has chosen to legitimize this reprehensible belief system, these behaviors, and white supremacy itself.

The authors also contended that they weren’t “advocating and suppressing free speech” due to Yiannopoulos’ already large platform and to insinuate that their protests would be seen as that would be “gaslighting.” They further added that as published Simon and Schuster authors and illustrators, they “reject the wisdom of the decision” as he and his book “are not America.”

[image via screengrab]

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Follow Justin Baragona on Twitter: @justinbaragona

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