Version 5.0, 1/23/15
Resolution Denouncing the Recent Attack on Charlie Hebdo and Other Attacks on the
Freedom of Expression
Whereas the American Library Association has been a staunch advocate for and defender of the freedom of the press and the freedom of speech contained in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States of America;
Whereas the American Library Association in its Library Bill of Rights affirms the right of everyone to read, view, listen to and otherwise access whatever they choose, whatever topic interests them -- regardless of the background or views of its creator or the content of the publication[RA1] (Policy B.2.1 Library Bill of Rights);
Whereas the American Library Association has long been on record affirming the freedom of expression as described in the Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Policy B.6.2.1 Article 19 of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Right);
Whereas these rights when taken together form a core professional value of the American Library Association, intellectual freedom (Policy B.1.1 Core Values of Librarianship);
Whereas the recent attack upon Charlie Hebdo, its editor and its staff resulting in the death of 12 human beings was a horrific attack on these rights and values;
Whereas the recent attack is another heinous attempt to undermine freedom of expression, with many journalists and photojournalists throughout the world threatened with death and imprisonment;
Whereas over two dozen journalists were killed and over two hundred were imprisoned in 2014 alone in such countries as Syria, Ukraine, Iraq, Somalia, Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Brazil, Afghanistan, Paraguay, Pakistan, India, Mexico, Burma, Libya, Philippines, Yemen, South Africa, Egypt, Guinea, Bangladesh, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Central African Republic; [DA2] now, therefore, be it
Resolved, that the American Library Association
- denounces this bloody assault on fundamental human rights;
- expresses its deepest condolences to all those associated with the publication Charlie Hebdo and to the French people;
- affirms its solidarity with L’Association des Bibliothécaires Francais, its members and all others library workers;
- reaffirms in the strongest possible terms its unwavering commitment to the advocacy and defense of intellectual freedom including freedom of the press, freedom of speech and freedom of expression;
- extends its support to all who exercise their right of free expression, most especially journalists who do so at the risk of their very lives; and
- requests that Keith Michael Fiels, Executive Director of the American Library Association communicate its support and resolve to Francois Hollande, President of the French Republic for the people of France, to our colleagues of L’Association des Bibliothécaires Francais and to all who struggle to maintain a vibrant, free press.
Movers: Loida Garcia-Febo, Chair, International Relations Committee, 917 548-2910
J. Douglas Archer, Chair, Intellectual Freedom Committee, 574 302-1749
[RA1]I encourage you to utilize, more closely, the actual language from the Library Bill of Rights. Perhaps this could be separated into 2 Whereas clauses – one related to the right of readers and the other related to the rights of content creators to share their views.
[DA2]Revised for more concrete specificity.