Critics of a middle school librarian who urged the Livingston Parish Library Board not to remove controversial books from children’s bookshelves are seeking to dismiss a defamation lawsuit the librarian filed against them.
One of the defendants in the lawsuit filed by Amanda Jones, president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians, is Ryan Thames, who published Facebook memes critical of Jones’ advocacy against any censorship of books in the children’s section.
Another defendant in the lawsuit filed in the 21st Judicial District Court is Michael Lunsford, executive director of Citizens for a New Louisiana, which promotes transparency in local government and conservative principles. Both defendants are seeking to have the lawsuit dismissed under a state law barring what are known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs).
Thames was accused in the lawsuit of saying Jones was supporting the teaching of sex to young children by opposing the relocation of the sexually explicit books the library board was examining.
“If you look at one of the books that was the subject of the book content (discussion) at the library board meeting, it's a how-to manual on how to have sex,” Joseph Long, Thames’ attorney, told the Louisiana Record. “My client’s comment was completely true.”
Defamation lawsuits such as Jones’ discourage discussion of important public issues and are an abuse of the legal process, according to Jones.
“The lawsuit is pitifully weak and should be dismissed,” the defendants’ motion to strike the defamation lawsuit states. “The First Amendment protects citizens from these kinds of SLAPP suits, designed to bully, intimidate and chill free speech and freedom of the press. Robust debate and argument are necessary in a democratic society.”
In this case, Jones is a limited public figure, having injected herself voluntarily into a matter of public discussion and, as a result, must prove the defendants acted from a position of actual malice, meaning that they knowingly made false statements.
Society has for years put in place common-sense restrictions to protect those under age from explicit materials, according to Jones. These restrictions include keeping Hustler magazine behind the counter at convenience stores and using filters on school computers to ensure students don’t have access to pornographic websites, he said.
Jones’ lawsuit contends she is not a public figure and that the statements made by the defendants – to the effect that Jones was sexually targeting children and wanting to provide guidance to teach sexual practices – “are false in every aspect.”
A court hearing on the defendants' motion to strike is scheduled for Sept. 21.