Librarian refuses to move LGBTQ+ propaganda away from kids — and seals her fate
Radicals in Alabama appear to have found a gray-haired figure around which to rally to oppose the broader conservative effort to shield American children from mature and perverse content.
The Rutherford County Library Board removed Luanne James from her position as director of the library system after she refused to fulfill her duties and move hundreds of titles containing inappropriate content — ranging from a book targeting adolescents about sexual activity to books about "genderfluidity" and transgenderism — from the kids' section to the adult section.
'I stand by my decision.'
The usual suspects have characterized the bespectacled obstructionist as a free-speech champion and her termination as unlawful.
How it started
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey (R) repeatedly expressed concern in 2023 over children's exposure to "inappropriate, sexually suggestive materials without adequate means of parental supervision" in her state's taxpayer-funded libraries.
Ivey noted in a Sept. 1, 2023, letter to the director of the Alabama Public Library Service that the growing parental concern underpinning her own would not be remedied by removing books containing inappropriate content, including radical "gender transition" propaganda, but rather by "ensuring that these books are placed in an appropriate location."
In the same spirit, the Alabama Legislative Services Agency proposed rule changes to the APLS in 2024 that would make libraries' state funding conditional on moving content "inappropriate" for kids to an adult section.
Last month, the APLS board of trustees said that the Legislative Services Agency approved the change, reported AL.com.
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Rutherford County Library board meeting documents reveal that Luanne James expressed a willingness to relocate some thematically and graphically mature titles but dug in her heels to keep numerous provocative works of LGBT agitprop in the juvenile sections of her county's libraries.
The Murfreesboro Daily News Journal reported that among the over 130 titles that James refused to move are:
- "Pride in Sports," an LGBT activist book by a lesbian couple that apparently attempts to normalize non-straight sexual preferences and sex-rejection procedures;
- "Welcome to Your Period," a book about menstruation that contains illustrations of female body parts and claims that doctors can administer drugs to "try to block or stop periods and other physical changes" for "transgender children," which the authors claim "have existed for as long as time";
- "The Every Body Book," a book that discusses and illustrates various body parts while pushing gender ideology on kids; and
- "Lily and Dunkin," a story about a romance involving an 8th-grade boy deluded into thinking he's really a girl.
To James' chagrin, the board decided in an 8-3 vote on March 16 to move over 100 of the inappropriate LGBT titles to the adult section.
James noted in a letter to the board two days later that "restricting access to these materials through subjective relocation or removal constitutes a violation of the community’s right to information and a direct infringement on the principles of free speech."
"I will not comply with the Board's decision to relocate these books," wrote James. "Doing so would violate the First Amendment right of all citizens of Rutherford County and myself."
How it's going
Having proven unwilling to do her job, James was relieved of it on March 30.
The board's 8-3 vote to kick James to the curb was met by a mix of applause by detractors and furious booing by supporters at the packed Rutherford County Courthouse. James later said, "I stand by my decision," reported the Murfreesboro Daily News Journal.
Cody York said in a statement obtained by the Daily News Journal that James' "refusal to implement a lawful directive of the Rutherford County Library Board constitutes insubordination."
Nashville attorney Chuck Mangelsdorf said, "Her termination we believe is completely unlawful," and said James is "a guardian of the First Amendment."
PEN America said in a statement that it "stands with Rutherford County Library System Director Luanne James in her refusal to banish LGBTQ+ children’s books from access by relocating them to the adult section. Children and teens deserve access to diverse books that represent their identities and stories and books that introduce young people to new ideas and perspectives."
Kasey Meehan, the director of PEN America's Freedom to Read program, claimed that James' "story will echo from the courthouse in Murfreesboro, Tenn., across the country as emblematic of the fight against censorship and suppression," reported the Advocate.
Supporters have already crowdfunded over $72,000 on GoFundMe for James.
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'Pure insanity': Alabama news anchor under fire for quoting Islamic terrorist during sign-off
An Alabama news anchor drew fierce backlash after she quoted the founder of a designated terrorist organization during her on-air sign-off.
During a Thursday evening broadcast on Birmingham's ABC 33/40, WBMA-LD, Ashonti Ford, 38, told viewers, "Before we go, a quote from the founder of the Islamic Brotherhood: 'The quieter you become, the more you're able to hear.'"
'The intent of our closing segment is always to end the newscast on a positive and thoughtful note.'
Ford was quoting the late Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna.
Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) reacted to the on-air moment, writing in a post on X, "Pure insanity. The Radical Muslim Brotherhood is a TERRORIST ORGANIZATION."
One X user responded, "Who made the decision to use the quote? That clown has to go!"
"She needs to be terminated!!" another individual wrote in response to Ford's comments.
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In January, the State and Treasury Departments designated Muslim Brotherhood branches as Specially Designated Global Terrorist groups.
Jeff Cox, a news director for ABC 33/40, which Sinclair Broadcast Group operates, apologized for the quotation on Monday, AL.com reported.
"The intent of our closing segment is always to end the newscast on a positive and thoughtful note," Cox said. "The quote included that evening was not intended to convey any political or ideological message."
"However, we understand it was perceived that way and on behalf of the station, I sincerely apologize to those who were offended," Cox added.
He asserted that Ford had no role in selecting the quote and stated that the matter was addressed internally.
"Although this quote was read by Ashonti Ford, Ashonti had nothing to do with the selection," Cox continued. "We have addressed the matter internally, and we are making adjustments to ensure our content consistently meets our editorial standards moving forward."
A Sinclair spokesperson told Fox News Digital, "ABC 33/40 is reinforcing its editorial review protocols to ensure content aligns with the station's standards."
"ABC 33/40 has an established editorial process for reviewing content. In this case, that process fell short, and the station has taken steps to strengthen it moving forward," the spokesperson continued. "The station's on-air talent was not involved in the selection of the quote. This was an editorial matter, which has been addressed through our internal processes."
Ford was not disciplined and remains on air, according to Fox News Digital.
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13-year-old boy brutally punishes stepfather who allegedly strangled his mom and also attacked him
A 13-year-old Alabama boy took matters into his own hands after his stepfather allegedly strangled his mother during an argument — and then attacked him, too.
Deputies with the Baldwin County Sheriff’s Office responded to a residence off Underwood Road in Foley at 8:20 p.m. Monday regarding a domestic violence complaint, the sheriff's office said in a Thursday morning news release.
'He was threatening to kill everyone in the house because he was high on drugs, and he was drunk.'
Upon arrival, deputies saw a 13-year-old male holding down 32-year-old Darnel Hernandez-Lopez with a bicycle in the front yard, officials said.
Hernandez-Lopez had numerous injuries to his face and was detained and treated medically on the scene, officials said.
Hernandez-Lopez’s wife told deputies her husband grabbed her around her neck and started to choke her during an argument that took place in front of the boy, who left the house to seek help.
Once the boy was outside, Hernandez-Lopez followed his stepson and attempted to violently engage him in the front yard, officials said.
During this altercation, the stepson was able to defend himself and struck his stepfather in the face numerous times and subdued him until deputies could arrive, officials said.
Hernandez-Lopez was charged with felony assault strangulation and taken to the Baldwin County Corrections Center for holding, officials said, adding that his bond is $30,000.
What's more, the sheriff's office said Hernandez-Lopez is now on an immigration hold as well.
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“He was threatening to kill everyone in the house because he was high on drugs, and he was drunk,” the mother told WALA-TV regarding Hernandez-Lopez.
She added to the station that Hernandez-Lopez swung at her son, who dodged the blow.
"[He] was able to get him on the ground, and that’s when he punched him a few times, knocked him out until the police arrived,” the mother noted to WALA.
She also told the station she was frightened for her son’s safety — at first.
“I was scared because I thought he was going to get hurt, but he had the situation under control," she told WALA, adding that she and her son are safe and did not suffer serious injuries.
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