Tuesday, October 22

Alabama library cancels Kirk Cameron’s kids’s ebook studying occasion, sparking First Amendment battle

Lawyers for Kirk Cameron informed a public library in Alabama that it’s working afoul of the First Amendment by canceling a kids’s studying occasion simply days earlier than Mr. Cameron and feminine swimming and girls’s sports activist Riley Gaines have been set to look on the studying.

First Liberty despatched a requirement letter to the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library asking for a response by Friday after the library stated Saturday’s occasion needed to be canceled attributable to safety issues. The library made its announcement Thursday — simply two days forward of the deliberate gathering.

According to First Liberty, the room on the library had been reserved for 250 folks to attend the Brave Books occasion and canceling it on the final minute suggests there’s viewpoint discrimination being exercised towards Mr. Cameron and his writer Brave Books.



“The gathering of citizens to hear authors read books at libraries is hardly a novel invention. Further, the exchange of ideas at libraries — including the exchange of ideas that some deem offensive and even dangerous — has been a staple of our American experience and long protected by the First Amendment,” the demand letter learn.

In a press launch Thursday, the library stated it couldn’t host an occasion the place 300 folks have been anticipated to collect attributable to safety issues.

“The Library explored options to make the event logistically possible by consulting the Madison City Police, the Madison City Fire Marshal and City officials. After discussing the logistics of the event with both the Library and the event organizer, the Madison City Police Department and the Madison City Fire Marshal have recommended that the event be held at an alternate location,” the press launch learn.

A spokesperson for the library didn’t instantly return a request for remark.

First Liberty stated the excuse wasn’t affordable.

“Appeals to phantom ‘security concerns’ cannot override the First Amendment,” its letter learn.

A spokesperson from Brave Books didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Mr. Cameron and Ms. Gaines have been set to look on the Alabama location, in addition to two different libraries in Tennessee and Texas.

“These expensive libraries should really be grateful that so many parents and children are excited to visit them this Saturday. Isn’t that what libraries want?” Mr. Cameron informed Fox News Digital Thursday afternoon.

According to a tweet by Mr. Cameron, greater than 300 libraries throughout the U.S. have been internet hosting “See you at the library” occasions on Saturday hosted by Brave Books for “a day of singing, praying, and reading.”

The occasions are geared towards supporting free speech and countering cancel tradition, which was sparked by greater than 50 public libraries not permitting Mr. Cameron to learn his ebook, “As You Grow” — regardless of a minimum of one in all them having hosted Drag Story Hours with drag queen readers.

Some of Mr. Cameron’s ebook occasions contain prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance and singing “God Bless America.”

Content Source: www.washingtontimes.com