Kirk Cameron, the actor and writer known for his popular children's books, is taking a stand against what he perceives as discrimination by the American Library Association (ALA).
Cameron, in collaboration with the nonprofit Christian conservative legal organization First Liberty Institute, is seeking to hold the ALA accountable for its recent advisories to libraries across the country, which he believes aim to "block" his upcoming nationwide story event on August 5.
Cameron expressed his concerns, stating, "While Im trying to encourage thousands of Americans to visit public libraries and read wholesome books to their children, the taxpayer-funded American Library Association is not only criticizing me, they are teaching libraries to break the law and conspiring to prevent thousands of families from visiting their own community reading rooms."
He further criticized the ALA for excluding viewpoints it disagrees with and hindering families from using libraries to read about faith, hope, and love.
In response to the ALA's actions, Cameron and First Liberty have launched an investigation with the federal government to hold the association accountable for religious discrimination, violation of the Constitution, and its own internal rules. Cameron emphasized that accountability is forthcoming.
Jeremy Dys, senior counsel at First Liberty Institute, condemned the ALA's actions, stating, "While claiming to promote equality and diversity, the ALA is conspiring to deny access to thousands of citizens based upon open intolerance of their religious beliefs.
Such action by any public library would be blatantly unconstitutional. Federal taxpayers should not be required to fund such bigotry and intolerance."
The upcoming "See You at the Library" book event, scheduled for August 5, 2023, aims to encourage faith-focused and family-first Americans to participate in book readings or story time events at their local libraries.
Typically, community members and others can reserve rooms at local libraries for such events. However, Cameron expressed shock at witnessing ALA staff, funded by a $250 million budget, training librarians to discriminate against families with religious beliefs and sabotaging community gatherings like "See You At The Library."
Cameron emphasized that libraries were historically created as safe spaces for people of all backgrounds to read about various topics, including God's design for the family, nations, and the world. He questioned the ALA's commitment to diversity of thought and equal opportunity for all.
Cameron and Brave Books, his publisher, referenced a video of a speech delivered by American Library Association leadership at a worldwide virtual conference for libraries on June 8.
During the presentation, attendees were instructed on how to prevent Brave Books story hours from taking place in libraries across the country.
The director of the ALA Office for Intellectual Freedom suggested limiting access to meeting rooms to library cardholders and prioritizing library-sponsored programs.
Since December 2022, Cameron has been conducting a story hour tour at libraries nationwide, reading from his books "As You Grow" and "Pride Comes Before the Fall."
First Liberty Institute wrote a letter to the Institute of Museum and Library Services, requesting an investigation into whether the ALA violated federal law protecting religious liberty and failed to comply with assurances of nondiscrimination as a federal grant recipient.
The letter emphasized that Cameron and Brave Books partner with local communities to read books at libraries, a practice that has been common throughout American history.
The letter also expressed concern over the ALA's criticism of Cameron's efforts to encourage Americans to visit public libraries and read books. It further suggested that the ALA's opposition to Cameron's work may be based on his religious beliefs, as indicated by Deborah Caldwell-Stone, the director of the ALA's Office for Intellectual Freedom.
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