Alabama Library Backtracks After Attempt to Cancel Kirk Cameron Event
By Movieguide® Contributor
An Alabama library that tried to cancel a book reading by actor Kirk Cameron has been forced to reverse course and allow the event to occur.
Cameron and his publisher, Brave Books, had organized a book reading at the Madison Public Library in Huntsville, Alabama. The reading was part of the publishing house’s “See You at the Library Day,” a nationwide event to read family-friendly content at hundreds of libraries.
The Madison Public Library, however, abruptly canceled the event three days before it was scheduled to occur, citing the number of attendees as being too large for any of the library’s spaces.
“Moms for Liberty event exceeds capacity for Madison Public Library,” the library’s statement reads. “The organizers of the event reported 20 attendees to library officials. On Tuesday, the Library learned that event organizers are now expecting over 300 people, a number that far exceeds any meeting room capacity within the Huntsville-Madison County Library System.”
“After discussing the logistics of the event with both the Library and the event organizer, the Madison City Police Department and the Madison City Fire Marshal have recommended that the event be held at an alternative location,” the statement continued.
Given Brave Books’ conservative and Christian values, however, the event organizers felt that the cancelation of the event was fueled by political bias more than anything else.
“Upon learning that Mr. Cameron and his friend and Brave Books author, Riley Gaines, will be attending in person, you abruptly canceled the event citing ‘security concerns’ from a potential protest of Mr. Cameron and claiming the event exceeds the library’s capacity,” Cameron and Brave Books’ legal counsel Jeremy Dys said in response to the library’s statement.
“As a recipient of federal funds, the ALA is prohibited from using taxpayer dollars to violate the First Amendment,” Dys further explained. “The senators also make clear that religious groups and organizers deserve equal treatment under the law.”
Cameron not only refused to let the library take away his First Amendment right but also believes the “See You at the Library Day” will benefit struggling libraries nationwide.
“These libraries should really be grateful that so many parents and children are excited to visit them tomorrow,” Cameron told CBN’s Faithwire. “With e-books and other online reading options, sit-down libraries are becoming irrelevant and obsolete to the younger generation.”
“Too much fear and woke-ness has made the ALA and these librarians go mad,” he continued.
The library reversed its decision after the backlash from Cameron and Brave Books.
“The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library has agreed with event coordinators, Moms for Liberty, to accommodate their planned meeting…at the Madison Library with a limit of 225 attendees. In the interest of public safety Madison Police and the Madison Fire Marshal will be on hand to manage any logistical needs,” an update from the library said.
The attempt to cancel this event is one of many obstacles Cameron has faced while trying to promote the work of Brave Books. He has faced multiple censorship efforts fueled by political bias.
Movieguide® previously reported:
Cameron is passionate about cultivating biblical virtues in America’s youngest generation. The actor believes Brave Books’ story hours allow conservatives to participate in something they believe is making a difference.
“This isn’t Kirk out there doing a story hour at a library, these are American patriots,” Cameron said. “I think this is a real tangible moment for people to see in America and those outside America that are looking at what a mess America is in right now, morally, politically and spiritually.”
He continued, “It’s not just a bunch of talking heads battling about ideas. But parents who are now fully engaged for the hearts and minds of their children, thus the future of our country in the public square contending for the ideas that will produce the results of the future. Conservatives and people of faith want a seat at the table…the Left is going to feel the weight of that.”
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