Tuscaloosa Library Closes its Doors on Christian Nonprofit
ADF attorneys file federal lawsuit on behalf of Eagle Forum of Alabama after public library denied the group access to meeting space
From the Alliance Defending Freedom and Eagle Forum of Alabama
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Alliance Defending Freedom attorneys filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday on behalf of Eagle Forum of Alabama, a Christian organization that is suing the Tuscaloosa Public Library.
Eagle Forum hosts events to encourage discussions, inform citizens of important issues, and encourage involvement in the political process. The library invites a wide variety of groups to use its Rotary Room meeting space, but library staff denied Eagle Forum access to its meeting space solely because of its religious character and activity.
“The Tuscaloosa Public Library can’t close its meeting spaces to religious groups like Eagle Forum while swinging them wide open to every manner of secular organizations. Such religious discrimination blatantly violates the Constitution,” said ADF Senior Counsel Travis Barham. “We are urging the court to hold library staff accountable for this violation of Eagle Forum’s constitutionally protected freedoms and restore the Christian nonprofit’s right to access the public library like everyone else.
”The Board of the Tuscaloosa Public Library maintains and enforces a policy that allows secular organizations to use the library’s meeting spaces while denying the same benefit to religious groups, violating Eagle Forum’s First Amendment rights.
"Tuscaloosa Public Library has no right to lock us out of its publicly available meeting space just because library staff may disagree with our views on politics or religion,” said Becky Gerritson, executive director of Eagle Forum. “The library, of all places, should make every effort to protect a learning environment where all ideas and viewpoints are welcome. We urge the court to restore our constitutionally protected freedom to continue holding meaningful discussions in the library.”
Eagle Forum of Alabama was established in 1986 as a state chapter of the national Eagle Forum organization. Eagle Forum champions God, family, and country. ADF attorneys filed the lawsuit, Eagle Forum of Alabama v. Tuscaloosa Public Library Board of Trustees, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Alabama.
• Pronunciation guide: Barham (BEAR’-um)
Alliance Defending Freedom is an alliance-building, non-profit legal organization committed to protecting religious freedom, free speech, parental rights, and the sanctity of life.
