Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias says the recent developments coming out of the Metropolis Public Library District should frighten and insult all Americans who believe in the freedom of speech and in our democracy.
Last month, the Metropolis Public Library Board of Trustees fired director Rosemary Baxter for violating library policy … including failing to separate personal convictions from the role.
This followed some community members expressing concerns that the library’s leadership was potentially censoring its collection and not meeting the diverse needs of its patrons.
Giannoulias says now some residents of Metropolis are retaliating against local library trustees, three of whom have been fired.
He says the inflammatory rhetoric has included referring to book-banning opponents as “Evil,” “the Enemy” and even “Satan” and warnings of violence and moral corruption.
