Moms for Liberty chapter founder vows to continue fight for all children
The Alabama Public Library System (APLS) paused funding to the Fairhope Public Library on Thursday after receiving concerns over inappropriate material offered in the teen section.
Moms for Liberty Baldwin County chapter founder Rebecca Watson attended the meeting in Montgomery to present evidence that the library is not in compliance with the APLS policy on inappropriate material. She read excerpts from two books, "Tricks" and "Sold."
"Tricks" contains explicit child rape, abuse of illegal drugs, graphic violence and child prostitution, Watson said.
"Sold" is about the human trafficking of a child.
Watson has been fighting the system in Fairhope for over two years. She has made presentations at city council meetings and Fairhope Library board meetings. However, she said City officials should also pause funding until changes are made.
"I think now the real hard work begins because really our city council and the mayor should have shut this down a long time ago," Watson said. "It should have never been elevated to this point."
The Fairhope Public Library revised policies and made changes after the APLS policy was enacted. However, Watson said every book offered in the children and teen sections should've been revisited to ensure state funding continued.
"I'm just really hoping this is the beginning of some big change that needs to happen," Watson added.
Five of the six APLS board members present voted to pause funding to the Fairhope Public Library. Funding will be reinstated when the library is compliant with the APLS.
In the meantime, Watson said she hopes people do research on their own in local libraries. Being the face of the fight has made her a target of hate. While she vows not to stop, she wants people to see the material for themselves.
"I know that what I'm doing is the right thing," she said. "And it's not a targeting of any specific group. It is the protection of our children. We are protecting all children because they are all vulnerable, especially the children that are struggling to figure out where they belong or where they fit in."
"As far as the hate groups or the people that think that I'm a hate group or the terrible comments that come my way, I will endure it because I know that the greater cause is what matters the most," Watson added. "I'm tough, so I can take it."