Librarians Condemn Police Conduct in Kansas City Free Speech Arrests

[Judi Lynn]

Librarians Condemn Police Conduct in Kansas City Free Speech Arrests
October 7, 2016


by Mark Hand

Libraries often find themselves on the frontlines against government overreach, whether it is opposing local politicians who want to ban books or protecting the privacy and confidentiality of their patrons from police intrusion.

The Kansas City, Mo., Public Library system has dealt with these issues over the years. But now the library finds itself at the center of a new controversy — aggressive policing — a trend increasingly common in the streets but rarely seen inside the walls of libraries.

In May, Kansas City police arrested an audience member attending a public event at a local branch of the city’s library system. The police also arrested an employee of the Kansas City Library who intervened on behalf of the audience member.

The library kept quiet about the May 9 incident for several months, hoping the city would drop the charges against the two people. When the city told the library it was moving forward with the charges, the library began to publicize the incident and how the local police suppressed free speech.

More:
http://www.counterpunch.org/2016/10/07/librarians-condemn-police-conduct-in-kansas-city-free-speech-arrests/

[xocet]

1. Also, here is the KC Star's report and the ALA's comment on the incident....

September 30, 2016 7:42 PM

Kansas City library officials defend employee arrested during public event
By Ian Cummings
[e-mail]


Kansas City Public Library officials said Friday they are outraged that the city continues to pursue the prosecution of an employee and a patron arrested at a public event earlier this year.

The arrests occurred after a provocative question was asked at the question-and-answer period of a May 9 talk by diplomat Dennis Ross. For months, library officials protested that the arrests and charges were a violation of the First Amendment.

The library did not go public with its opposition until recently, with city prosecutors appearing determined to pursue charges.

Police have stood by the arrests, saying that off-duty officers hired by an event sponsor acted properly in helping private security stop an audience member from asking follow-up questions after a short exchange with Ross.

...

http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/crime/article105294071.html

ALA President Julie Todaro responds to Kansas City (Mo.) Public Library free speech arrests

...

CHICAGO - On May 9, 2016 Kansas City Public Library Director of Public Programming Steve Woolfolk was arrested for his efforts to protect free speech during a public program entitled “Truman and Israel.” During the program off-duty police officers hired by the event sponsor arrested a patron for asking difficult questions and then arrested Woolfolk when he tried to intervene.

American Library Association (ALA) President Julie Todaro released the following statement.

“The ALA commends the Kansas City Public Library for its commitment to fostering public deliberation and the exchange of a wide spectrum of ideas by offering meeting rooms and other spaces for lectures, educational programs, and organizational meetings," said Todaro. "Its long history of support for free speech in public programming exemplifies the library profession’s mission to influence positive and lasting change within their communities by providing opportunities for patrons to freely express opposing viewpoints without fear of persecution.

“Libraries are public institutions that serve as catalysts for public discussions that help solve community challenges. Such efforts are not possible when patrons are not allowed to engage in open debate in a public forum, but rather are arrested for asking difficult questions.

...

http://www.ala.org/news/press-releases/2016/10/ala-president-responds-kansas-city-mo-public-library-free-speech-arrests

[Judi Lynn]

2. Wow. Hadn't seen either article. Thank you, so much, for posting them. n/t