Citing concerns for “balance and security,” NRPL caves to anti-Palestinian pressure campaign, then reschedules talk for April 18

A week before a long-scheduled talk by the editors of a book on 21^st-century progressive activism, the New Rochelle Public Library (NRPL) indefinitely “postponed” the presentation, caving to pressure from people who objected to providing a platform to supporters of Palestinian rights.   A week later, responding to pressure from local progressive activists and the American Library Association, the library rescheduled the talk.  It is now set to take place on Thursday, April 18, at 7:00 pm in the library’s Ossie Davis Theater.  

Those wishing to attend must register in advance.

The speakers, Anthony Arnove and Haley Pessin, are the co-editors of “Voices of a People’s History of the United States in the 21st Century: Documents of Hope and Resistance,”  described as a compilation of “speeches, essays, poems, and calls to action from 21st-century social movements, including Black Lives Matter, #MeToo, Indigenous struggles, immigrant rights activists, the environmental movement, disability justice organizers, and frontline workers during the global pandemic who spoke out against the life-threatening conditions of their labor.”

For many years, Arnove and Pessin have included the struggle for Palestinian rights in their human-rights writings and activism.  This did not sit well with people who believe that authors who support Palestinian rights should not be allowed to discuss their new book on American history at the NRPL.

The book is a follow-up to the late historian Howard Zinn’s classic “People’s History of the United States,” which has been read and studied by millions of people since its publication in 1980.  Along with Zinn, Anthony Arnove edited “Voices of a People’s History of the United States,” a 2004 companion volume with writings, speeches, poems, songs, and other primary-source material representing the political and social movements that have shaped American history.  Arnove and Pessin’s new book brings the previous volumes into the current century. 

At the public meeting of the Library Board on March 14, the Board President, Whitney Barrat, read a statement quoting at length the American Library Association Bill of Rights, Freedom to Read Statement, and Library-Initiated Programs and Displays policy.  She then proceeded to violate these policies and announce the postponement of the program scheduled for March 21, citing the need for “a broader point of view, which we need time to plan in an intentional and thoughtful manner because of the sensitivity of the issue from all sides.” 

“We made the decision to postpone the program,” Barrat continued, “because we recognize the sensitivities and want to ensure that we have the staff capacity and skill set to successfully facilitate a constructive conversation.  We also believe that there was an opportunity to consider more broadly expanding the program content to consider a series of speakers and perspectives on social justice and historically oppressed communities.  We have every intention of inviting these editors to participate as part of the expanded program.  We will need time to further develop such a program.  In addition, the library has logistical issues around theater capacity, the security and safety of our speakers and audience, which is of utmost importance, and other practical considerations that need more time and consideration in order to best serve our community.”

Several community members addressed the Board both supporting and opposing the program.  Lisa Burton said, “It is unrealistic to think that every time someone Googles a name and finds something they don’t agree with that you should come to a complete halt and try to figure out how to balance it—we will get nothing done.”  Jackson Riemerschmid reminded the Board that “the role of the library is to uphold the truth, to uphold differing opinions, and not shy away from things that are difficult.”

Those opposing the program largely focused on statements on the Palestine issue made by the invited speakers as long ago as 2000.  Joseph Farca characterized their views as “biased, one-sided, and hateful,” and argued that “if we’re going to support education with one-sided views, we’re only going to spread hate.”  Marvin Chinitz suggested that, “The only way to keep the peace is to not discuss these issues in the library.”  Andrew Newman compared the speakers’ views to eugenics and Nazism, and alleged, without evidence, that they supported “killing every single Jew on the planet.”

Rather than present a revised program with opposing views, the library has invited the speakers to give the same presentation they were planning to give on March 21.

The library board will meet again on Thursday, April 11, in the Ossie Davis Theater, one week before the rescheduled book talk.  Members of the public will again have the opportunity to address the board then.