Our View: Library should be a forum open to all. (Wausau Daily Herald editorial, 3/30/2011)
Excerpt: Marathon County Public Library officials were wrong to block a screening of an anti-abortion film at the downtown Wausau library. They should reverse their decision and offer an apology to the group, 40 Days for Life, that had its event wrongly canceled.
According to Marathon County Corporation Counsel Scott Corbett, a planned screening of the film "Blood Money" by Wausau's 40 Days for Life chapter was canceled because library Director Ralph Illick believed planned protests against the film would disrupt the library's normal business.
That argument won't fly. It effectively punishes the group for something someone else might do.
In fact, that policy would give veto power to any outside group that threatened to protest at the library. Imagine that a group of white supremacists wanted to picket a Hmong Association event. Should the library cancel the Hmong group's event? Obviously not.
Part of what is so valuable about libraries is that they are public spaces open to anyone. Libraries have a special role in protecting the public discourse.
Related articles:
Marathon County anti-abortion group plans to file lawsuit. (3/30/2011)
"Blood Money", library meeting room use, and charges of censorship. (3/29/2011)
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