Man burns 100 library books on Jewish, African American, LGBTQ topics, officials say
BEACHWOOD, Ohio (WOIO/Gray News) - The actions of a man in Ohio have drawn outrage from the wider community after he has been accused of taking out 100 books from a public library so he could burn them.
Ohio Sen. Kent Smith said the subjects of the books were reportedly on Jewish history, African American history and LGBTQ+ education.
The Beachwood Police Department reported the man checked out the books from the Beachwood Branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library.
Later, the man reportedly posted a video of himself burning the books on social media.
The library system said it would not comment on the ongoing investigation.
On Monday, Heights Christian Church said it is ing with Interfaith Group Against Hate to condemn the man’s actions.
The church, which describes itself as “open to and affirming of all people, celebrating and finding strength in our diversity + affirming the dignity + worth of every person,” hosted an Action and Press Conference “against this hateful act.”
“Besides condemning the action, IGAH will be promoting for our libraries,” the groups said in a statement. “We will also be presenting a plan of action that will include partnering with local bookshops to purchase books, as well as community readings and discussion on topics that promote diversity and free speech.”
Sen. Smith also condemned the man’s actions in a statement and said they were “fundamentally un-American.”
“This nation was founded on the right to free speech and open expression, and our libraries are the embodiment of that promise,” the statement reads in part. “Libraries are designed to be community-based safe harbors of free thought.”
“Libraries offer ideas. This is their fundamental role in our democracy and why they are so vital. This act of violence is not just a crime against the public catalog of literature that was destroyed, but also is a violation of the marketplace of ideas that is a bedrock principle of American life.”
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