NBCnews + Texarkana Gazette, "...Backfire: Book burning didn't pan out as planned” + Ideastream “Interfaith group turning the page on hate after Beachwood library books burned”
In a Cleveland suburb, a man got a library card at the Beachwood Branch, gave a false reason for checking out 100 books of minority voice, and posted a video online burning them. A voice in the video says “he needed to “cleanse” the library of the books.”
...Interfaith Group Against Hate, a coalition led by Jewish, Muslim, and Christian congregations, quickly condemned the man's actions and said it wants to collect 1,000 "new books lifting up Black, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ voices," Congregation Mishkan Or [posted on Facebook].
“Whoever perpetuated the idea that you can burn us out of Cleveland ... deny our ideas and oppress us and frighten us to the corner…they picked the wrong community!” Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk from Mishkan Or said in a statement.
“...Let’s use this moment [not to stand in fear but] to stand against this oppressive act, and deepen our convictions to learn about each other’s faith, race, culture and values,” he continued.
"We want to take this act of hate and turn it into a powerful symbol of unity, solidarity and love," Rev. Ryan Wallace of Fairmount Presbyterian Church said….
So,
Northeast Ohioans are mobilizing …. The Interfaith Group Against Hate (IGAH) is holding an online book drive to replace the materials, which centered on Black, Jewish and LGBTQ awareness and history. In the coming weeks, books can be donated via the Shavuot book fair on May 30, Pride in the CLE book fair on June 7 and a Juneteenth book fair on June 19 at Loganberry Books….
h/t 3generations <big><big><big>Freedom to Read</big></big></big>
