Read Freely Alabama Chapter Defense

A Message to the Spanish Fort Library Board: At your most recent April 21st meeting, you discussed your intent to implement policy changes that would censor books that are vital to the Spanish Fort community. This proposed unconstitutional policy would restrict materials for minors involving “sexual orientation, gender identity, and sexual ethics,” including even materials for teens that cover the topic of sexual assault.  In your discussion, the board made clear that they believe moving these materials to age-restricted sections of the library does not constitute censorship; the courts have proven this is incorrect. • PEN America v. Escambia County School Board (Florida, 2024): In this ongoing case, U.S. District Judge T. Kent Wetherell II ruled that the First Amendment prohibits the school board from restricting over 160 titles based on LGBTQ and racial themes.  • Board of Education v. Pico (U.S. Supreme Court, 1982): This landmark case established that school boards cannot restrict books simply because they disagree with the ideas contained within them. The Supreme Court ruled that such access violates First Amendment rights to access information and ideas.  • Counts v. Cedarville School District (Arkansas, 2003): In this case, a federal judge ruled that restricting access to “Harry Potter” by requiring parental permission was unconstitutional due to the restriction being based on objections to the books themes (witchcraft and the occult) rather than legitimate educational concerns, violating the First Amendment. • Read Freely Alabama v. Autauga-Prattville Public Library Board of Trustees (Alabama, 2024): In this ongoing case, Read Freely Alabama, The Alabama Library Association and local patrons filed a federal lawsuit in the Middle District of Alabama, the plaintiffs argue that the library’s policies violate the First Amendment by restricting access to constitutionally protected materials based on content and viewpoint, and are unconstitutionally vague, infringing on the Fourteenth Amendment’s Due Process Clause, leading to arbitrary enforcement. The plaintiffs contend that the policies disproportionately infringe on LGBTQ content and other materials.  For all of these reasons, we urge you to reconsider this policy change and uphold the constitutional rights of all Spanish Fort residents, as those rights are not subject to compromise. PLEASE SIGN AND SHARE IF YOU AGREE!  Sign this petition to send a message to the Spanish Fort (AL) Library Board and tell them to stop these unconstitutional policy changes that harm marginalized children and their families!

The board members have used ethically dubious means to implement Clean Up Alabama-approved library policies discriminate against minority groups, violate the Constitution, and are outright unAmerican.