Moms for Liberty Baldwin County chapter founder Rebecca Watson said she and others trying to protect children from sexually inappropriate material in the Fairhope Public Library were met by an "angry mob" during a library board meeting Monday.
Watson described the meeting as a "hostile environment" created by those fighting to keep the obscene books in reach of young readers.
“They feel that they’re defending their library,” Watson told 1819 News. “They feel that the library is under attack, and it's personal. With what I learned, they are not aware of the APLS (Alabama Public Library Services) policies, and it’s not personal. There are policies that these libraries have to follow.”
According to a recent rule change proposed by Gov. Kay Ivey and approved by the APLS, libraries must create policies to govern juvenile sections and protect youth from sexually explicit or inappropriate material. Libraries must have written guidelines to ensure minors do not come into contact with obscene materials, and there must be library cards for minors under the age of 18 that require parental approval before checkout.
Watson said the library’s review process is for book removal instead of relocation of the materials. She believes that could be why some believe Moms for Liberty and other groups are asking to remove the books.
“You can put on the form that you want the book to be moved and not removed, and we do that every time,” she said.
Some of those who attended the meeting Monday had to leave after they claimed to be verbally attacked. One woman said the “hostile crowd” interrupted others and name-called.
Library Board Secretary Randal Wright sent Friends of the Fairhope Library a letter encouraging supporters to attend the meeting Monday because of an "ongoing attack" and "relentless anger directed at the library." She also called members of Moms for Liberty and Clean up Alabama "organized" and "loud."
Watson said the letter could have fueled hostility leading up to the meeting. She wants changes to be made so the library can continue to receive state funding.
“I really think that they feel this library is being attacked, and they don’t understand there are policies that have to be followed,” said Watson. “They have failed to relocate any books. They are not compliant. And I think the people who are arguing this so hard are debating, ‘What is sexually inappropriate?”
Watson said decisions must be made based on facts, not emotions.
“I’ve never witnessed such ill-mannered, disrespectful behavior at a board meeting before,” Watson stated in a letter to Moms for Liberty members.
In a letter to the Fairhope City Council and Mayor Sherry Sullivan, Watson asked to remove Chairman Anne Johnson and Secretary Wright from the Library Board of Trustees.
“The library board seemed to encourage this hostile environment, as evidenced by the letter from Randal urging supporters to show up angry, indicating that peaceful compromise and rational discussion were not the goals,” Watson wrote. “I watched as the crowd yelled, calling speakers in favor of book relocation racists, among other derogatory terms. I expected Anne Johnson to step in and control the meeting, but instead, I witnessed both her and Randal smirking, satisfied by the chaos, without attempting to restore order. The police officer had to intervene multiple times, even threatening removal before the crowd quieted down.”
Watson said she feels those who want to relocate inappropriate materials are not being heard. Although the library board is creating a sub-committee to review challenged books, she called the move a “veiled attempt to consolidate additional control over the board.”
During a town hall meeting last month, Johnson said the library was complying with APLS guidelines and that no challenged books had been removed.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email erica.thomas@1819news.com.
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