The National Coalition Against Censorship (NCAC) and members of the free speech community are alarmed by the Rockwell Falls Public Library Board’s postponement and subsequent cancellation of an April 15 Drag Queen Story Hour, as well as recent suggestions from board members to remove any books that encompass LGBTQ+ themes or topics that purportedly relate to Critical Race Theory.
The library board decided to postpone the Drag Queen Story Hour after receiving pushback from community members who opposed the event. The board cited the need for additional research into the performer and the planned reading. However, results from this research have yet to be made available, and the event has since been cancelled without plans for rescheduling.
This cancellation raises concerns about First Amendment rights being violated due to opposition based on differing viewpoints. These concerns are further compounded by calls from a board member to remove books from the library’s collection that feature LGBTQ characters or themes related to racial diversity or marginalized histories.
Read NCAC’s full letter to the Rockwell Falls Public Library board here: