Association of Research Libraries Condemns Inflammatory Speech and Violence after Charlottesville Tragedy

This is a follow-up to yesterday's post entitled Library Association Statements About Racist Violence in Charlottesville.

The Association of Research Libraries has also come out with a statement concerning the Neo-Nazi and white supremacist marches last week in Charlottesville, Virginia:

"Following the white supremacist and neo-Nazi rallies in Charlottesville, Virginia, this weekend, and the tragic death of anti-hate demonstrator Heather Heyer, killed by a car driven into the crowd, the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) reaffirms its longstanding commitment to diversity, inclusion, equity, and social justice. The Association condemns xenophobic speech and actions and mourns Heyer’s grievous death. Hate speech and hate crimes such as these not only harm individuals, they terrorize entire communities and divide nations."

"Research libraries and archives are bastions of free expression and inquiry. However, hate speech and other inflammatory rhetoric that incites violence or any actions that threaten our community members cannot be tolerated."

"Racism, anti-Semitism, and bias in any form—whether based on ethnicity, nationality, culture, religion, gender, sexual orientation, ability, or other qualities—are antithetical to the mission of libraries to advance society by facilitating discovery, education, and innovation. The Association of Research Libraries and its members will do everything in their power to safeguard the dignity and safety of library patrons, in part by making it clear in words and deeds that we stand for diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice (...)"

The ARL is a nonprofit organization of 123 research libraries in the US and Canada.