Radical left-wing Read Freely Alabama proclaims APLS, Clean Up Alabama, Moms For Liberty, Eagle Forum akin to KKK, Bull Connor, Jim Crow
Read Freely Alabama compared two Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) members and various conservative groups to the KKK in a recent newsletter.
The newsletter followed a public hearing on a proposed code change to relocate gender ideology materials from juvenile to adult sections.
After noting that APLS received more feedback in favor of the change than pushback, the nonprofit urged its supporters not to be discouraged.
"Remember these extremist groups have existed in Alabama before and imposed their unconstitutional will and lost," a newsletter stated. "History remembers the KKK, the White Councils, Bull Connor, Jim Crow and George Wallace. Likewise, history will remember Wahl, Clean Up Alabama, Moms For Liberty, Eagle Forum, Amy Minton [APLS board member] and others who seek to hurt marginalized communities once more by banning books."
The conservative groups and individuals mentioned in the newsletter have spoken out against sexually explicit materials offered in children's and teen sections. The APLS has already changed the code to relocate those materials to the adult sections. Libraries are to establish library cards for minors that allow children and teens to access the adult section with parental approval.
The organization accused Wahl of using his position as Alabama Republican Party chairman to influence the outcome of the public comment period after the Alabama Republican Party sent two emails urging citizens to write in support of the latest proposed code change.
"Chairman Wahl has worked hand in glove with these national extremists groups using his political position to influence the outcome," the newsletter stated. "This is a conflict of interest, an abuse of his authority, and a rigging of the system."
Angie Hayden, founder of Read Freely Alabama, has repeatedly referred to those wanting to relocate books as "extremists" and has called the effort unconstitutional by "restricting LGBTQ materials and books about racial injustice."
Minton told Phil Williams on "Rightside Radio" that Read Freely is bringing race into the argument as a last-ditch effort.
"This has zero, nothing to do with race," Minton said. "As a matter of fact, there are very, there's several different ethnicities on the APLS board that actually helped pass this ruling. And so, this has nothing to do with race, so when that came up, I thought it was interesting because we're actually pushing for exactly the opposite of that."
"Just like Psalm 139:14 says, 'We are fearfully and wonderfully made,'" she continued. "That is what we are encouraging. The race you were born, the person you were born to be, the sex you were born to be. Learn to enjoy that and be fearfully and wonderfully made. Don't try to surgically manipulate or change it by gender-affirming care."