Re: Libraries won't stand up for First Amendment

On 2025-03-14 2:19 AM, Adam H. Kerman wrote:

I went by the library a little after 4 pm. Its parking lot was closed. The
street in front of the library was blocked off at the intersection to the
north, and to the south between the library and village hall. There were
four large public works trucks used to create the blockade, plus four
squad cars. I saw four police officers outside and one inside the library.
 I had a book to return, so I walked in. The west entrance was closed amd
the book return bins were closed. The east entrance was open.
 It finally dawned on me that Israelism was being shown, the
pro-Palestinian film made by two Jewish directors and sponsored by
several pro-Palestinian/anti-Netanyahu groups.
 Last fall, they were opposed by Jewish groups that were either
pro-Netanyahu or didn't publicly object to Netanyahu. An 8,000 message
email campaign opposing the showing of this movie got its screening
cancelled at one library after it had been scheduled, and not scheduled
at another library.
 I asked both library staff and the cops but neither confirmed that
Israelism was to be screened.
 The locked book bins? I'm guessing that's fear of pipe bombs.
 I'm going to look into this further. Who ate the cost for security for
this event? Last fall, the library was slammed by the ACLU for demanding
$3,000 for insurance and security costs to agree to re-schedule the
film. So who ate the cost of extra security?
 It is my position that, even though the film was eventually screened,
the security burden is an unconstitutional abridgement of freedom of the
;ress. Also, making the library appear to be closed despite being open
for business abridges freedom of the press too.
 The First Amendment has no exception for fear of violence.
 I called it in to Chicago Sun-Times and spoke to a reporter.

Good on you, Adam. I'm sure a part of your soul was screaming at the thought of what the film was saying against Jews and Israel and in favour of Hamas but you stuck to your rock-solid belief in the First Amendment and acted to protect the filmmakers' (and library's) right to show it.
--
Rhino