A former librarian, Suzette Baker, is standing up against Llano County after getting fired for refusing to take specific books off the library shelves. She is suing the county, claiming unfair dismissal and rights violation.

Baker, who spent over a decade as the head librarian at Kingsland Public Library, faced a tough choice when asked to remove books on race and queer experiences. She stood firm, believing in the importance of providing diverse literature to the community.

Defying Censorship

During the summer of 2021, a group of community activists demanded the removal of specific titles, deeming them 'inappropriate' for various reasons. Despite facing resistance, Baker staunchly refused to comply with the requests, sparking a series of events that ultimately led to her termination.

The lawsuit, which targets Llano County, County Judge Ron Cunningham, and other community figures, asserts that Baker's dismissal resulted from discrimination against minority groups and violated her First Amendment rights. The legal complaint brings attention to the broader issue of escalating censorship in rural communities and its potential ramifications on access to information.

Baker, a Texas native, passionately described her role as a librarian as her life's calling, underscoring the crucial role of reading in teaching empathy and humanity. Currently employed as a cashier to make ends meet, Baker hopes the lawsuit will address her wrongful termination and champion the principles of intellectual freedom.

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Legal Battle Against Wrongful Termination

Despite a federal court's 2023 mandate for the county to reinstate removed titles, the threat to free access to information lingers. This lawsuit represents the latest battleground over determining which content children should access in public libraries, with a specific focus on books addressing race or LGBTQ+ issues.

One similar case that turned out successful is that of Brooky Parks. Fired from the Erie Community Library near Denver for advocating anti-racism and LGBTQ+ programs for teens, Parks secured a $250,000 settlement in September. The settlement, obtained through the Colorado Civil Rights Division, mandates increased librarian influence in decisions related to library programs.

Parks endured eight months without work and was supported through community donations that prevented the risk of losing her home. The settlement is expected to resolve Parks' claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Iris Halpern, the attorney representing Parks and Baker, likens these cases to civil rights-era legal battles, emphasizing the importance of standing up for what is right.

Like Baker, Terri Lesley faced difficulties securing employment after her termination from the library system she oversaw in Gillette, Wyoming. The librarians' legal stance centered on potential discrimination based on associations with certain groups, a protection afforded by the 1964 Civil Rights Act and enforced by the EEOC.

Since her termination, Baker described her life as more isolating, implementing security measures at home and avoiding public events due to increased recognition. Despite these challenges, Baker and her attorney, Halpern, are confident in winning the case, even if it takes a few years.

Halpern pointed out that recent attempts at widespread censorship, such as book bans or restrictive laws, have consistently been declared unconstitutional. Baker, driven by the belief that libraries should be inclusive public spaces, continues to fight for that ideal.

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