This month’s See You At The Library events organised by Christian children’s author Kirk Cameron are already being hailed as a success.
More than 200 people attended book readings by the actor and women’s sport activist Riley Gaines Barker at an Alabama library sponsored by Moms For Liberty which advocates against LGBT ideology in schools.
The library had earlier cancelled the event because it feared trouble from protest groups, but then agreed to host it following appeals by Mr. Cameron, his lawyers and his publisher Brave Books. Kirk Cameron said the agreement between his team and the library was a testimony to “the power of mums and dads gathering in prayer.”
The children’s author told Fox Digital: “I believe this reconciliation between us and the Madison Public Library is a testimony to the strength and power of mums and dads gathering in prayer for the blessing of their community. Both sides rose to a higher ethic than we often see in today’s polarised society. By seeking the common good and love for our neighbour, we found a solution. See you at the library!”
Ms. Gaines Barker told Fox: “We’ve seen this before. A library has come up with an excuse to prevent us from sharing wholesome messages to children. I’m happy to say we will continue forward with full force! It’s times like this where we must stand our ground as conservatives, but more importantly as Christians.”
CBN News reports some demonstrators did try tried to disrupt the story-hour, but their efforts were thwarted by Alabama police. Hundreds more people later showed up at Huntsville’s The Rock Church after the library reading to sing songs, recite the Pledge of Allegiance, hear Riley Gaines Barker speak, and hear Kirk Cameron read from his second children’s book Pride Comes Before The Fall.
It was part of the actor’s See You At The Library campaign to read and share family-friendly content at hundreds of libraries across the US. Mr. Cameron and Ms. Gaines Barker had previously attended similar story-hours in Texas and Tennessee. The former Growing Pains star has planned a national tour taking in 260 libraries, covering nearly every state and calling on all libraries to embrace his family-friendly events. One of his biggest turnouts and warmest receptions was at The Billy Graham Library in Charlotte, North Carolina.
CBN News reports he has previously accused the American Library Association (ALA) of bias after it purportedly offered up ways libraries could block Mr. Cameron and others like him from holding these events which were set up as an alternative to drag queen story-hours which most public libraries embraced. The resulting debate has led Republican senators in the US Congress ro call for an investigation into the ALA and the potential “misuse of taxpayer dollars to silence Brave Books,” according to Christian legal organisation First Liberty.
Photo: Billy Graham Evangelistic Association
