The fascists are threatening to bomb the libraries. The next step in 'anti-wokeism'.
There’s a lovely little library on Block Island
That is where we are staying this week.
Our family comes here every year at the end of August.
The name, The Island Free Library, accurately describes its role on the island that lies an hour by ferry off the coast of Rhode Island.
Free books. Free movies. Free wi-fi. Free lectures. Free thought.
For years, before the island-wide availability of internet connection, you could find many of the seasonal workers sitting with their lap-tops behind the library connecting to folks at home.
One summer we went to a lecture and an exhibit at the Island Free Library about the fugitive peace activist, the Reverend Daniel Berrigan, who once found refuge from the FBI on the Island.
The Block Island Free library carries on the tradition of libraries as repositories of free thought
It is a tradition of what Florida’s governor, Ron DeSantis condemns as wokeism.
Ron DeSantis would hate The Block Island Free library.
His followers have taken a cue from his anti-woke campaign and gone one step further by threatening to blow up public libraries and threatening the librarians who work in them.
Park Ridge, in suburban Chicago where I was a teacher for thirty years, has a wonderful library.
The Park Ridge library had to close the other day because of threats of violence.
A closed library is a win for Ron DeSantis’ hatred of free thought.
I love the Park Ridge library and not just because they invited me to exhibit my student’s art work there every year.
Libraries in Morton Grove, Gurnee, Oak Park and Wilmette have also reported receiving threats.
In a message sent to the Oak Park Public Library threatening a “big explosion” at several libraries and county highways.
The message, “There will be a big explosion all over Cook county’s highways and librarys (sic) including Chicago gurnee and oak park. It will explode sometime tomorrow 8/21/2023,” was received by the library over the weekend, Village of Oak Park Spokesman Dan Yopchick stated in an email to Pioneer Press Monday.
That is some sick shit.