Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

cbabe

(4,166 posts)
Thu Apr 4, 2024, 11:17 AM Apr 2024

Alabama Republicans Try to 'Criminalize Librarians Simply for Doing Their Jobs'

https://www.commondreams.org/news/alabama-library

Alabama Republicans Try to 'Criminalize Librarians Simply for Doing Their Jobs'

"Not only is this wrong, it's also unconstitutional. You are not protecting children; you are protecting extremists who are trying to dismantle the very foundations of my country."

JESSICA CORBETT
Apr 03, 2024

The Alabama Library Association and other critics on Wednesday called out the state's Republican policymakers for pushing a new bill that opponents warn will unfairly jail librarians and have a chilling impact on collections. House Bill 385, introduced Tuesday by state Rep. Arnold Mooney (R-43) and 30 other legislators, says that "under existing law, certain obscenity laws do not apply to public libraries, public school libraries, college libraries, or university libraries, or the employees or agents of any such libraries."

"This bill would provide that these criminal obscenity laws do not apply to college or university libraries or their employees or agents, but do apply to public libraries, public school libraries, and their employees or agents," the legislation continues.

H.B. 385 would also add the following language to the definition of sexual conduct: "Any sexual or gender-oriented material that knowingly exposes minors to persons who are dressed in sexually revealing, exaggerated, or provocative clothing or costumes, or are stripping, or engaged in lewd or lascivious dancing, presentations, or activities in K-12 public schools, public libraries, and other public places where minors are expected and are known to be present without parental consent."


"Under H.B. 385, public and school librarians could be penalized or even arrested by prosecutors eager to follow the demands of Alabama Republican Chair John Wahl, an Alabama Public Library Service Board member, who's willing to jail librarians for having books he considers unacceptable," Layne said. "This bill is government overreach, robs parents of their rights, and would have a chilling effect on free speech by potentially incarcerating librarians because particular books are available, including even the Bible."

…more…

(He went there: even the Bible.)



6 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Alabama Republicans Try to 'Criminalize Librarians Simply for Doing Their Jobs' (Original Post) cbabe Apr 2024 OP
Aren't most librarians women? LakeArenal Apr 2024 #1
Don't know but how is this relevant to book banning? cbabe Apr 2024 #2
Just seems to me Republicans go after jobs primarily held by women. LakeArenal Apr 2024 #3
Ah. Got it. My snark is they hate librarians because they have skills. Like reading and thinking. cbabe Apr 2024 #4
Message auto-removed Name removed Aug 2024 #5
What does this have to do with the OP?? GP6971 Aug 2024 #6

LakeArenal

(29,808 posts)
3. Just seems to me Republicans go after jobs primarily held by women.
Thu Apr 4, 2024, 11:28 AM
Apr 2024

Teachers, librarians, nurses, election volunteers.

Just something it seems to be.

Response to cbabe (Original post)

Latest Discussions»Region Forums»Alabama»Alabama Republicans Try t...