[Libs-Or] FW: [alacoun] Library worker arrested in library after defending patron's free speech

[Lorene Forman]

Here's some shaky video footage of the library event itself back in May,
and some more recent footage of the Kansas City librarians speaking out
about what happened.  Librarian Steve Woolfolk, who had organized this
library program, and a patron were arrested by off-duty police officers
after the patron asked a question of the event speaker, former Bush
administration official, Dennis Ross.  The librarian and the patron are now
facing charges of resisting arrest.  Both the librarian and the patron were
manhandled by the officers and Woolfolk suffered a knee injury.  This is
truly horrible.

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


Lorene Forman
Jefferson County Library Youth Services Specialist
541-475-3351, ext 2

<http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/willrogers386200.html>“Comics
are a gateway drug to literacy.”  Art Spiegelman


On Thu, Sep 29, 2016 at 9:00 AM, Rawles, Carolyn <
Carolyn.Rawles at corvallisoregon.gov> wrote:

> I don’t know how many of you saw this, but this seems pretty outrageous!
>
>
>
> *Carolyn*
>
>
>
> Carolyn Rawles
>
> Library Director
>
> Corvallis-Benton County Public Library
>
> Corvallis, OR  97330
>
>
>
> (541)766-6910
>
>
>
> Enrich|Excite|Explore
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* alacoun-request at lists.ala.org [mailto:alacoun-request at lists.
> ala.org] *On Behalf Of *Aaron W. Dobbs
> *Sent:* Thursday, September 29, 2016 7:28 AM
> *To:* ALA Council List <alacoun at lists.ala.org>
> *Subject:* [alacoun] Library worker arrested in library after defending
> patron's free speech
>
>
>
> Library Worker Heroically Defends Patron’s Free Speech, Is Brutally
> Arrested in Library Where He Works
>
> http://bordc.org/news/library-worker-heroically-defends-
> patrons-free-speech-brutally-arrested-library-works/
>
>
>
> “For someone to be assaulted and then arrested for asking a question, in a
> public library of all places, is abhorrent. The library should be a place
> where people of all points of view can feel safe and welcome,” Steve
> Woolfolk, director of public programing at the Kansas City Public Library
> told the Dissent NewsWire.
>
> ...
>
> “I have spent the last 10 years of my life trying to cultivate that
> atmosphere through public programming at the library. Library staff should
> be the final arbiters of what constitutes reasonable discourse at a public
> event held inside a public library,” Woolfolk explained to the Dissent
> NewsWire. Yet, when he tried to intervene on the questioner’s behalf,
> Woolfolk found himself arrested at an event he helped plan.
>
> ...
>
> Woolfolk stands charged with interfering with the arrest of Rothe-Kushel.
> Rothe-Kushel, like Woolfolk feared, was charged with trespassing and
> resisting arrest. “Nobody, be it an individual or an agent of the state,
> should be able to take it upon themselves to silence a point of view simply
> because they disagree,” Woolfolk informed the Dissent NewsWire. Yet, it
> would appear that not only is that exactly what happened, but a librarian
> who tried to make sure that a public library remained a public forum was
> arrested, as well.
>
> *Disclaimer:* This e-mail message is a public record of the City of
> Corvallis. The contents may be subject to public disclosure under Oregon
> Public Records Law and subject to the State of Oregon Records Retention
> Schedules. (OAR:166.200.0200-405)
>
> _____________________________________________________
> Libs-Or mailing list
> Libs-Or at listsmart.osl.state.or.us
> http://listsmart.osl.state.or.us/mailman/listinfo/libs-or
> Hosted by the Oregon State Library. The Library is not responsible for
> content.
> Questions related to message content should be directed to list owner(s)
> or the sender of the message, by phone or email.
> Technical questions? Call 503-378-8800.
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://omls.oregon.gov/pipermail/libs-or/attachments/20161003/81b8eef4/attachment.html>