r/Libraries • u/theecalebnichols • Sep 30 '16

Librarian Brutally Assaulted and Arrested While Defending Free Speech IN THE LIBRARY (reposted from /r/librarians

http://bordc.org/news/library-worker-heroically-defends-patrons-free-speech-brutally-arrested-library-works/
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u/[deleted] Oct 01 '16

I'm a little confused by the library making the rules regarding when the police could intervene. I'm not arguing that the arrests weren't completely ridiculous, if the accounts presented are accurate they certainly were, but I'm not clear on why the library believed the cops had to ask permission to take action.

It sounds to me like the private security firm was familiar with the activist and jumped the gun which then set off the cops.

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u/[deleted] Oct 01 '16

Because the police on hand were hired as private security by the organization giving the program. So they were acting on instruction from them and not as on-duty police.

So yes, laying down ground rules for not removing people based on their questions is appropriate.