Nearly 7,000 letters were sent to the Alabama Public Library Service (APLS) in support of a proposed amendment, thanks to a grassroots effort. The amendment would deem gender ideology inappropriate for minors.
Groups such as Moms for Liberty and Clean Up Alabama (CUA) have been working for years to have sexually explicit materials in libraries moved out of children and teen sections. Those groups, along with Fairhope Faith Collective, Eagle Forum and several churches, came together to gather letters from those who support the amendment.
Together, the groups collected nearly 5,500 of the 6,781 letters. On the final day of a public comment period, the group hand-delivered them to the APLS.
"Almost 80% of the 8,400 public comments backed the APLS amendment, proving this was a genuine grassroots movement," said Rebecca Watson with Fairhope Faith Collective. "Parents, pastors and everyday Alabamians stood together to protect their children and preserve our values. We're grateful to the APLS Board for their steadfastness in upholding community standards consistent with the Miller Test and for listening to the voices of the people they serve."
On the final day of public comment, Phil Williams from "Rightside Radio" and Greg Davis from the Alabama Citizens Action Program (ALCAP) and Priority Talk Radio pushed their audiences to the digital submission form.
APLS chairman John Wahl was cursed at on Tuesday evening at a public hearing on the amendment. The crowd opposing the amendment became irate after APLS board member Ronald Snider accused Wahl of using his position as chairman of the Alabama Republican Party (ALGOP) to solicit support for the amendment.
The ALGOP sent reminders about the public comment period, but Wahl said he did not write or send the emails.
"Once again, the sore losers on the radical left can't accept the truth," said Hannah Rees, with CUA. "Instead of listening to the people of Alabama — the thousands of parents, pastors and citizens who submitted comments to the APLS Board in support of the code change — they're trying to spin misinformation to cover up the fact that they lost the argument."
Rees said while the majority of comments came from the grassroots effort, she is pleased that the ALGOP supported the proposed amendment.
"Every Alabamian has a constitutional right to speak up — and they did, loud and clear," said Rees. "The radicals pushing the sexualization of our kids need to wake up. The people of Alabama will not stand for it."
The letters contained requests to approve the amendment, and nearly 5,500 of them asked for additional provisions.
The groups are asking for materials contrary to Alabama's "What is a Woman" Act, the Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act (VCAP) and President Donald Trump's executive order affirming there are only two sexes – male and female.