A Louisiana librarian has filed a lawsuit against two men and a conservative organization, claiming they defamed her when they attacked her for supporting the teaching of LGBT-inclusive books.
Amanda Jones, a middle school librarian and president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians, claims in the lawsuit that a “public campaign” was launched against her after she spoke out against the removal of certain books from the Livingston Parish Library system on board meeting.
The lawsuit states that Citizens for a New Louisiana posted on Facebook on July 20, the day after the meeting, criticizing “anti-censorship people” who opposed moving “explicit sexual and erotic material directed at eight to 10-year-olds” to the adult section of libraries.
A second post from July 22 specifically refers to Jones, asking why she “fights so hard to keep sexually erotic and pornographic material” in the children’s section. The lawsuit notes that a photo of Jones in the post is surrounded by a red circle with a white border, allegedly looking similar to a target.
Michael Lunsford, who runs the group, commented on the post that Jones was “in the public eye” and “‘advocates’ for erotica in the children’s section.”
The account allegedly made several other posts in July and August referencing Jones and tagging her in the posts.
The lawsuit alleges that the posts damaged Jones’ reputation and incited acts of violence against her.
The lawsuit also alleges that Ryan Thames, who runs a Facebook page called “Bayou State of Mind,” posted a meme of Jones on or about July 21, showing her smiling and sitting behind a desk and saying she was advocating for teaching anal sex to 11 year olds.
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The post was eventually removed, which Jones believes was the result of Facebook’s intervention, but the post went viral on social media, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit states that the post caused Jones anxiety and emotional distress, and that Thames continued to publicly mock Jones.
Citizens for New Louisiana, Lunsford and Thames did not immediately return requests from The Hill for comment.
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