School Librarian of the Year sues right-wing propagandists
August 16, 2022 1:06 PM Subscribe
A Louisiana school librarian is suing two men for defamation after they accused her of advocating to keep "pornographic" materials in the parish library's kids' section. It's a rare example of an educator taking legal action against conservatives who use extreme rhetoric in their battle against LGBTQ-themed books. From Tyler Kingkade for NBC News.
Amanda Jones, a librarian at a middle school in Denham Springs, Louisiana, filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday, arguing that Facebook pages run by Michael Lunsford and Ryan Thames falsely labeled her a pedophile who wants to teach 11-year-olds about anal sex.
Jones, the president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians, was alarmed and outraged by the verbal attacks, which came after she spoke against censorship at a Livingston Parish Library Board of Control meeting. She said she’s suing the two men because she’s exhausted with the insults hurled at educators and librarians over LGBTQ materials.
From Kara Yorio in School Library Journal: School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones Fights Back Against Online Attacks. On July 19, the 2021 School Librarian of the Year spoke at the Livingston Parish (LA) Library board meeting in opposition to censorship and book banning. She attended the meeting as a private citizen and was one of many residents to speak in support of access and free speech.
Soon after the meeting, however, the right-wing organization Citizens for a New Louisiana and others found out she was a school librarian, and the personal attacks began. A Facebook post accused her of fighting to keep “sexually erotic and pornographic” materials in the library’s children’s section, and a meme accused Jones of advocating teaching anal sex to 11-year-olds. Negative comments joined the attacks and inflamed an already volatile situation. Jones says the online harassment after the meeting was frightening, upsetting, and humiliating.
...Jones believes these people chose to attack her, and not anyone else who spoke against censorship at the meeting, because they thought if they could shut her up, everyone else would be afraid to speak up in the future. She is suing Citizens for a New Louisiana executive director Michael Lunsford, as well as Ryan Thames who runs the Bayou State of Mind Facebook page and created the meme.
As Claire Woodcock reported in Motherboard/Vice last month, Libraries Are Becoming a Battleground for LGBTQ+ People, which means that librarians have also become targets.
One librarian who was targeted recently and asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation describes the experience as deeply unsettling. “It was very unnerving at first when it happened … I just had never been called a sex groomer or a pedophile before,” they told Motherboard. “Some of it was coming from local individuals, which has made me feel just very nervous for my safety. You just don’t know how intense people are [offline].”
... The recent attacks have contributed to a growing conflict within the library community on the role of librarians in representing and protecting marginalized communities. During a recent panel discussion at the ALA annual conference in Washington, DC, comments were made suggesting that pro-Holocaust books should have a space on library shelves. This sparked outrage from a growing number of librarians who are critical of what they’ve called the contradictory stance ALA has taken on book bans—condemning hate while holding onto traditional values of neutrality.
Previously: The war on drag (which includes Proud Boys showing up at library story hours). July 2022
Amanda Jones, a librarian at a middle school in Denham Springs, Louisiana, filed a defamation lawsuit Wednesday, arguing that Facebook pages run by Michael Lunsford and Ryan Thames falsely labeled her a pedophile who wants to teach 11-year-olds about anal sex.
Jones, the president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians, was alarmed and outraged by the verbal attacks, which came after she spoke against censorship at a Livingston Parish Library Board of Control meeting. She said she’s suing the two men because she’s exhausted with the insults hurled at educators and librarians over LGBTQ materials.
From Kara Yorio in School Library Journal: School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones Fights Back Against Online Attacks. On July 19, the 2021 School Librarian of the Year spoke at the Livingston Parish (LA) Library board meeting in opposition to censorship and book banning. She attended the meeting as a private citizen and was one of many residents to speak in support of access and free speech.
Soon after the meeting, however, the right-wing organization Citizens for a New Louisiana and others found out she was a school librarian, and the personal attacks began. A Facebook post accused her of fighting to keep “sexually erotic and pornographic” materials in the library’s children’s section, and a meme accused Jones of advocating teaching anal sex to 11-year-olds. Negative comments joined the attacks and inflamed an already volatile situation. Jones says the online harassment after the meeting was frightening, upsetting, and humiliating.
...Jones believes these people chose to attack her, and not anyone else who spoke against censorship at the meeting, because they thought if they could shut her up, everyone else would be afraid to speak up in the future. She is suing Citizens for a New Louisiana executive director Michael Lunsford, as well as Ryan Thames who runs the Bayou State of Mind Facebook page and created the meme.
As Claire Woodcock reported in Motherboard/Vice last month, Libraries Are Becoming a Battleground for LGBTQ+ People, which means that librarians have also become targets.
One librarian who was targeted recently and asked to remain anonymous out of fear of retaliation describes the experience as deeply unsettling. “It was very unnerving at first when it happened … I just had never been called a sex groomer or a pedophile before,” they told Motherboard. “Some of it was coming from local individuals, which has made me feel just very nervous for my safety. You just don’t know how intense people are [offline].”
... The recent attacks have contributed to a growing conflict within the library community on the role of librarians in representing and protecting marginalized communities. During a recent panel discussion at the ALA annual conference in Washington, DC, comments were made suggesting that pro-Holocaust books should have a space on library shelves. This sparked outrage from a growing number of librarians who are critical of what they’ve called the contradictory stance ALA has taken on book bans—condemning hate while holding onto traditional values of neutrality.
Previously: The war on drag (which includes Proud Boys showing up at library story hours). July 2022
Yeah - this is tremendously uplifting to read about.
posted by wittgenstein at 1:28 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by wittgenstein at 1:28 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
Apparently a pitfall of the right wing media ecosystem is that a member of Congress can say just about anything they please and be protected by the Speech and Debate clause, but that protection doesn't apply to the amateur purveyors of slander who imitate them.
posted by Gelatin at 1:30 PM on August 16, 2022 [11 favorites]
posted by Gelatin at 1:30 PM on August 16, 2022 [11 favorites]
Her GoFundMe (which is currently funded over its goal, but who knows how long this will drag on for) is here if you'd like to donate. I've kind of been wondering when someone was going to sue over this kind of thing--turns out accusing someone of being a child abuser is actually legally actionable a lot of the time! I used to live in Louisiana, and Denham Springs is one of those small towns that isn't 100% conservative but has a really rabid, scary far-right contingent that expects to be catered to in all things.
posted by Nibbly Fang at 1:50 PM on August 16, 2022 [17 favorites]
posted by Nibbly Fang at 1:50 PM on August 16, 2022 [17 favorites]
I teach the info-and-society intro course in a library school.
I took out an assignment in that course syllabus today to replace it with one on Planning How To Handle Right-Wing Asshats (under a much more innocuous name and non-partisan framing, of course, I'm not witless), muttering "f*** this world, I want a better one" under my breath the whole time.
Thanks for the funding link. This needs to work. I'm terrified of what will happen to public and school librarians if it doesn't.
posted by humbug at 2:04 PM on August 16, 2022 [35 favorites]
I took out an assignment in that course syllabus today to replace it with one on Planning How To Handle Right-Wing Asshats (under a much more innocuous name and non-partisan framing, of course, I'm not witless), muttering "f*** this world, I want a better one" under my breath the whole time.
Thanks for the funding link. This needs to work. I'm terrified of what will happen to public and school librarians if it doesn't.
posted by humbug at 2:04 PM on August 16, 2022 [35 favorites]
GOOD. FOR. HER.
posted by Gray Duck at 2:25 PM on August 16, 2022 [15 favorites]
posted by Gray Duck at 2:25 PM on August 16, 2022 [15 favorites]
Funded. Thank you for posting.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:30 PM on August 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 3:30 PM on August 16, 2022 [4 favorites]
This is the kind of thing that makes me regret not becoming a lawyer, because I would do this kind of work pro bono every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
posted by nushustu at 3:44 PM on August 16, 2022 [8 favorites]
posted by nushustu at 3:44 PM on August 16, 2022 [8 favorites]
Rock on Ms. Jones. Give these asshats a taste of their own business.
posted by Windopaene at 4:06 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Windopaene at 4:06 PM on August 16, 2022 [2 favorites]
There are way too many stories about librarians being harassed, outside interference, or even literal book burning these days. It's good to see someone fighting back.
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 4:55 PM on August 16, 2022 [9 favorites]
posted by CheeseDigestsAll at 4:55 PM on August 16, 2022 [9 favorites]
YES. Donated. :D
posted by Glinn at 5:05 PM on August 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Glinn at 5:05 PM on August 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
Donated. An inspiration to hear about - thanks for sharing.
posted by roguepotato at 5:28 PM on August 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by roguepotato at 5:28 PM on August 16, 2022 [3 favorites]
Donated, spread the word. A friend (and fellow MeFite) is a kids' librarian here in Brooklyn and I expect a matching donation shortly.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:29 PM on August 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 7:29 PM on August 16, 2022 [5 favorites]
This is Livingston Parish, one of the trumpiest jurisdictions in the region. I m not sure how the judges run, but culturally, this is a tough area.
This is taking the fight home, in state court. We were already losing this battle in Lafayette. Please support.
posted by eustatic at 8:57 PM on August 16, 2022 [7 favorites]
This is taking the fight home, in state court. We were already losing this battle in Lafayette. Please support.
posted by eustatic at 8:57 PM on August 16, 2022 [7 favorites]
From afar (UK) the radicalisation of the U.S.'s society looks scary AF.
posted by fordiebianco at 11:24 PM on August 16, 2022 [6 favorites]
posted by fordiebianco at 11:24 PM on August 16, 2022 [6 favorites]
It's happening here too, just look at the anti-trans rhetoric of the Conservative leadership campaign.
Amanda Jones is a god damn hero, doing the real work of protecting queer communities (and freedom of speech).
posted by Dysk at 12:01 AM on August 17, 2022 [11 favorites]
Amanda Jones is a god damn hero, doing the real work of protecting queer communities (and freedom of speech).
posted by Dysk at 12:01 AM on August 17, 2022 [11 favorites]
This guy is based in my hometown of Lafayette, and has been doing this ultra-right stuff for years.
The library attacks are a nationwide effort that I believe is funded by Koch money, since I note that Lunsford has gotten funding from them before.
Lunsford does uncover some corruption and malfeasance, but it's never of Republicans, only Democrats.
posted by atchafalaya at 5:41 AM on August 17, 2022 [3 favorites]
The library attacks are a nationwide effort that I believe is funded by Koch money, since I note that Lunsford has gotten funding from them before.
Lunsford does uncover some corruption and malfeasance, but it's never of Republicans, only Democrats.
posted by atchafalaya at 5:41 AM on August 17, 2022 [3 favorites]
A Texas school district is removing and reviewing dozens of challenged books, including the Bible and an Anne Frank adaptation (CNN). Because of course it is.
posted by Bella Donna at 7:51 AM on August 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by Bella Donna at 7:51 AM on August 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
When the Cult has gamed the courts and elections what is left?
posted by aiq at 8:14 AM on August 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by aiq at 8:14 AM on August 17, 2022 [1 favorite]
During a recent panel discussion at the ALA annual conference in Washington, DC, comments were made suggesting that pro-Holocaust books should have a space on library shelves.
This here is a perfect example of why free speech "absolutism" has found itself on the back foot as of late. The simple reality is that genocide does not need a devil's advocate - in fact there's a strong argument to be made that society should have a strong, clear anti-genocide position as a matter of fact. And yet, for too long it's been argued that their is an obligation to give space to these works for a number of reasons that sound noble at first, but on examination wind up having a confused justification that routinely looks away from the harm being done.
The simple reality is that when it comes to hate and bigotry, there is no "neutral" - there is only support (either openly or tacitly) and opposition.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:17 AM on August 17, 2022 [11 favorites]
This here is a perfect example of why free speech "absolutism" has found itself on the back foot as of late. The simple reality is that genocide does not need a devil's advocate - in fact there's a strong argument to be made that society should have a strong, clear anti-genocide position as a matter of fact. And yet, for too long it's been argued that their is an obligation to give space to these works for a number of reasons that sound noble at first, but on examination wind up having a confused justification that routinely looks away from the harm being done.
The simple reality is that when it comes to hate and bigotry, there is no "neutral" - there is only support (either openly or tacitly) and opposition.
posted by NoxAeternum at 9:17 AM on August 17, 2022 [11 favorites]
Librarians: fuck yeah.
posted by wenestvedt at 11:41 AM on August 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 11:41 AM on August 17, 2022 [2 favorites]
During a recent panel discussion at the ALA annual conference in Washington, DC, comments were made suggesting that pro-Holocaust books should have a space on library shelves.
Bouncing off the earlier comment on this line, I find it really weird that the free speech absolutists always go to Nazi apology and queer extermination as the furthest free speech point to argue from, when that's really just the start. You really want to support ALL SPEECH? Protest in support of NAMBLA. Protest in support of Mormon polygamists, or cannibalism. It's only Nazi stuff because there's some tinge of lost cause power bullshit in modern Nazi speech that's absent in the truest fringes of socially unacceptable speech. Folks who advocate for Nazi books aren't free speech devil's advocates. They're Nazis.
posted by Philipschall at 9:23 PM on August 17, 2022 [8 favorites]
Bouncing off the earlier comment on this line, I find it really weird that the free speech absolutists always go to Nazi apology and queer extermination as the furthest free speech point to argue from, when that's really just the start. You really want to support ALL SPEECH? Protest in support of NAMBLA. Protest in support of Mormon polygamists, or cannibalism. It's only Nazi stuff because there's some tinge of lost cause power bullshit in modern Nazi speech that's absent in the truest fringes of socially unacceptable speech. Folks who advocate for Nazi books aren't free speech devil's advocates. They're Nazis.
posted by Philipschall at 9:23 PM on August 17, 2022 [8 favorites]
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posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:18 PM on August 16, 2022 [39 favorites]