The backlash against the self-proclaimed Marxist president of the American Library Association is growing.
Emily Drabinski took over as president of the ALA in July. The association is the largest nonprofit trade organization for libraries, recently wielding its influence against efforts to ban sexually explicit content from school libraries and to recommend dozens of LGBT books for minors. The concerns began over a post she made to social media before taking her spot at the head of the ALA.
“I just cannot believe that a Marxist lesbian who believes that collective power is possible to build and can be wielded for a better world is the president-elect of @ALALibrary,” Drabinski wrote. “I am so excited for what we will do together. Solidarity! And my mom is SO PROUD. I love you mom.”
🧵In a 2022 interview, American Library Association (ALA) president, Emily Drabinski, refers to herself as a Marxist.
“I never thought in a million years they’d give a Marxist a chance.”
Marxism is an dangerous, anti-American ideology, responsible for millions of deaths. pic.twitter.com/R7qyLTunpw
— Meg Brock (@MegEBrock) July 23, 2023
Despite the backlash, she doubled down in an interview with NBC News published on Monday.
“I was excited to highlight and celebrate two aspects of my identity that are really important to me and are often under a lot of scrutiny,” Drabinski, who is also a lesbian activist, said, adding that she wanted to be an example for other library employees who shared her identities. “I didn’t anticipate these kinds of targeted attacks being used as a bludgeon against library workers across the country. I really think that is regrettable, and I wish that wasn’t happening right now.”
The Montana State Library Commission became the first state commission to leave the ALA over Drabinski’s comments. Montana State Library Commissioner Tamara Hall praised the decision, calling it a statement “about “what’s right for Montana We’re pulling out based on the fact that our oath of office for Montana and for the federal government is in direct violation of Drabinski’s Marxist opinion.”
In addition to Montana, lawmakers in other states — including Arizona, Idaho, Illinois, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina and Wyoming — have led calls to separate from the ALA over concerns about Drabinski’s Marxism and the political agenda of the ALA.
–Alan Goforth | Metro Voice
