This incident marks the second or third time that political groups and county agencies have reported alleged right-wing violence. A similar claim arose during a protest outside the Sparks Library, where the presence of a firearm among the protesters, was cited as an act of violence.
Our Center, an LGBTQIA+ advocacy nonprofit, announced the cancellation of all future drag events in Washoe County public libraries due to alleged “violence” from right-wing protestors. The organization, known for its controversial “Drag Queen Story Hour,” cited concerns for the safety of library staff as the primary reason for the cancellation.
“The Workplace Violence Committee is recommending the cancellation of the program due to concerns for the safety of library staff over the behavior of a small group of conservative, right-wing protesters who injured a library employee and disturbed parents and children as they entered facilities for the storytimes. Violence is abhorrent and we do not condone behavior which puts our public servants at risk. From our perspective as the program has been canceled, the protesters have been rewarded for their bad behavior,” Our Center stated.
Stacey Spain, Executive Director of Our Center, emphasized their commitment to diversity and inclusion.
“The Drag Story Hour program exemplified these values, and it is deeply disappointing that outside influences have necessitated its cancellation. We will continue to explore alternative ways to promote understanding and celebrate diversity in our community,” Spain said.
It added that while they could host drag story hours outside the library, doing so would compromise the principle that public spaces should serve all minority communities equally.
The organization wants Washoe County to reconsider its stance and implement measures to protect future events and attendees. The decision to cancel the events was communicated to library staff in a letter from Washoe County Manager Eric Brown, citing significant concerns for employee safety despite increased security measures and de-escalation training.
Bruce Parks, Chairman of the Washoe County GOP, criticized media reports that linked his party to the protests, calling them false and misleading.
“The press will never miss an opportunity to portray Republicans in a bad light. Spain has publicly stated she has no interest in having a dialogue,” Parks said. “I would love to sit down with Spain and have a conversation. But I am pretty sure that is never going to happen.”
In response to the cancellation, the Washoe County Library expressed its commitment to partnering with Our Center and providing a safe and inclusive space for all community members. Brad Bynum, Washoe County Library spokesperson, noted that the decision to cease participation in the Drag Story Hour was due to threats and violence directed at staff.
Bynum also mentioned an incident where the Reno Police Department (RPD) refused to accept a report from an injured library employee during a June 15 Drag Story Hour event. North Valleys Library Manager Jonnica Bowen explained that while the incident was reported and documented, the police could not determine the specifics of the injury based on the available information.
The RPD couldn’t verify the complaint, so you will have to draw your own conclusions.
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