Kansas City librarians challenge police in free speech incident

During a May lecture by Middle East expert Dennis Ross at the Kansas City Library, a security guard grabbed a man using a microphone during the question and answer segment. After a library employee asked that the man be allowed to leave peacefully, he was arrested along with the speaker. When the police said they would not drop charges against the two, the Kansas City Library accused the police of violating the First Amendment. (CounterPunch, October 7, 2016, by Mark Hand)

The American Library Association released this statement: “Its [the Kansas City Library’s] long history of support for free speech in public programming exemplifies the library profession’s mission to influence positive and lasting change within their communities by providing opportunities for patrons to freely express opposing viewpoints without fear of persecution. Libraries are public institutions that serve as catalysts for public discussions that help solve community challenges. Such efforts are not possible when patrons are not allowed to engage in open debate in a public forum, but rather are arrested for asking difficult questions.” (ALA, October 3, 2016, press release by Deputy Director Macey Morales)

The man with the mic Jeremy Rothe-Kushel asked Ross a provocative question that Ross answered in a way that displeased Rothe-Kushel and then turned to another question. Rothe-Kushel then attempted to make a statement and the security grabbed him.Without touching the guard, the library employee Steven Woolfolk asked the guard to allow Rothe-Kushel to leave on his own volition. Soon after Rothe-Kushel was arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest and Woolfolk for interfering with the arrest. (American Libraries Magazine, October 3, 2016, by George M. Eberhart)