SRRT (Social Responsibilities Round Table)

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The Social Responsibilities Round Table works to make ALA more democratic and to establish progressive priorities not only for the Association, but also for the entire profession. Concern for human and economic rights was an important element in the founding of SRRT and remains an urgent concern today. SRRT believes that libraries and librarians must recognize and help solve social problems and inequities in order to carry out their mandate to work for the common good and bolster democracy.

Learn more about SRRT on the ALA website.

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Censored and censored once again on Connect

  • 1.  Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Jan 29, 2025 04:04 PM
    I was censored/censured by the American Library Association (ALA) last year for re-posting an item by Mosab Abu Toha on our member forum , ALA Connect, and now, again, I am being officially reprimanded and called to respond to charges that I have VIOLATED THE CODE OF CONDUCT OF ALA,  based on a second re-posting of a piece by Mosab on the fate of the Edward Said Libraries in Northern Gaza.

    I maintain that it is of critical importance to.know what the founder of the now totally destroyed Said Libraries, is seeing and saying, bearing on matters relevant to ALA in the most fundamental way.

    Below is the official notice from ALA about my last repost of Abu Toha 
    ==========================================
    Hi Mark Rosenzweig,
    I hope this message finds you well.
    I am notifying you that a Code of Conduct Incident form was submitted, and your discussion post (Post No.1) on thread, "RE: Bibliocide in Gaza" thread as has found the post to be a Code of Conduct violation.
     
    As a reminder, all users of Connect should adhere to the rules and guidelines of the Online Code of Conduct.
    https://connect.ala.org/codeofconduct
    Endorsement or promotion of local, state, or federal political candidates or encouraging boycotts is strictly prohibited due to IRS restrictions for tax-exempt organizations. Detailed information can be found on the ALA Legal Framework page. I encourage you to debate the ideas and not the individual.
     
    In regard to your post:
    Mosab Abu Toha, Palestinian poet & librarian, posted this today:                   
     Statement on the destruction of the Edward Said Public Library in Gaza
    January 22, 2025
     
    My name is Mosab Abu Toha and I'm a Palestinian poet and writer from Gaza.
    Today morning with a heavy heart I received the news of the destruction of the Edward Said Public Library in Beit Lahia, north Gaza. The news and pictures came through just three days after Gazans were allowed to return to north Gaza.
    Starting 2016, I started collecting books from around the world to build Gaza's first English language library. With the endorsement and support of authors and intellectuals around the world, I raised the needed funds to open the library in the summer of 2017.
    It took me around eight weeks to receive each box of books that friends and supporters were sending from the United States and Europe. A few people were sending a selection of books from their own home libraries, and I was planning to name certain shelves in the library in Gaza after them.
    In September 2019, a second branch was opened in Gaza City. News of the horrible damage done to the branch was relayed to me a few months ago.
    All the dreams that I and friends in Gaza and abroad were drawing for our children have been burnt by Israel's genocidal campaign to erase Gaza and everything that breathes of life and love.
    The destruction of the Edward Said Public Library is just one war crime committed against Gaza and Gazans in the past 15 months. The obliteration of Gaza's universities, schools, cultural centers as well as religious sites must be condemned. Moreover, the world of culture and literature must respond to this atrocity by publicly it and by boycotting Israeli cultural institutions and anyone coming from that part.
    I demand that the American Library Association (ALA) issue a statement condemning the destruction of the Edward Said Public Library in Gaza and boycott Israeli libraries and cultural institution. In January 2020, and as part of the ALA Midwinter Meeting in Philadelphia, I delivered a presentation about the struggle libraries in Palestine face, and I told the story of the Edward Said Public Library.
    I also urge American libraries and authors, some of whose books were on the shelves of the library, to stand in solidarity with the libraries in Gaza and to express their commitment for a protected cultural life in Palestine.
    In December 2023, Do'a Al-Masri, the librarian at the Gaza City branch of the library, was killed in an air strike with her mother and siblings in Tuffah neighborhood.
    Lastly, I'm committed to rebuilding the library, its two branches, and even expand the project to build one in Rafah and another in Khan Younis. My only two concerns now are whether I can get books into Gaza and also whether I will find children who are convinced that this is safe and important to visit the library, especially after all the trauma and losses each of us experienced.
     
    Mosab Abu Toha,
    Author and founder of the Edward Said public Library-Occupied Palestine
     
    Please consider removing the following:
     
    Moreover, the world of culture and literature must respond to this atrocity by publicly it and by boycotting Israeli cultural institutions and anyone coming from that part.
    This portion of your post is a violation of the Online Code of Conduct.
    If you are unwilling to edit the post, the post will be removed.
     
    In addition, the reporter has reported this line from your post as antisemitic and violation of the Online Code of Conduct:
    "Israel's genocidal campaign to erase Gaza and everything that breathes of life and love."
     
    ALA has reviewed this portion of your post and has concluded this is not a violation of the Online Code of Conduct. Per the ALA Connect Moderation Policies and Procedures, the reporter can request that the ALA Code of Conduct Committee review ALA staff's decision. The reporter has requested the post be reviewed.
    If the post has not been removed due to your decision to remove the suggested line that violates the Online Code of Conduct, per the reporter's request, your post will be reviewed by the Code of Conduct Committee during the week of February 10th - February 14th, 2025.
     
    If you have any questions regarding the review, you can reach out to me at cstevenson@ala.org.  If you disagree with this review, you can request that the ALA Code of Conduct Committee review this decision by emailing connect@ala.org.
     
    Best,
    Cory Stevenson
     

    Cory Stevenson

    He/Him/His




  • 2.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Jan 29, 2025 04:07 PM
    How  can we help?



    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Jan 29, 2025 05:11 PM

    Katharine,

    The end of their email states, "If you disagree with this review, you can request that the ALA Code of Conduct Committee review this decision by emailing connect@ala.org." I plan to send them a note. I think Mark is in the right here, and that it's an important issue. I think if a good number of people wrote to that address making the case for Mark's message, they would hear it. The other option would be to take it to the ALA Member List and discuss it there. Someone might want to do that.

    Rory



    ------------------------------
    Rory Litwin
    President
    Library Juice Academy
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Jan 29, 2025 06:48 PM
    SRRT asked the Code of Conduct Committee to issue guidelines some months ago about what can and can't be said on Connect. So far there is total silence.

    I ask Cory Stevenson to report on our request for guidelines ASAP.

    Al Kagan





    Original Message


  • 5.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Jan 29, 2025 06:52 PM
    Unfortunately, ALA has been very clear and consistent about disallowing posts that promote boycotts. We did try to push back the first time and tried to make the case that we were not personally promoting boycotts for asking ALA to do so and that went nowhere. It does not matter if it is or we're sharing someone's posts, calls for boycotts are not allowed due to ALA's nonprofit status.



    April



    Original Message


  • 6.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Jan 29, 2025 07:16 PM
    Somewhat piggybacking on April's reminder - 

    Not to be overly dense, but in looking at the Code of Conduct and having read the post, I'm not seeing how the rules have been misapplied here. (Rules we all agree to by participating in Connect - like any other ToS that might exist for any online discussion forum.)

    The portion that was reported as antisemitism was dismissed as NOT in violation of the Code.

    The portion re: boycotts seems to be pretty clearly about not jeopardizing ALA's tax exempt status. With that short section of the quoted piece removed from the post, it seems like the rest of the post can stay up. What am I missing here?

    I'm sure many of us are on edge considering the rest of the political climate beyond the moderated walls of ALA, staring down the barrel of some frankly existential threats.

    Perhaps this goes without saying but I would just ask that, especially in SRRT spaces and especially now, we try to keep our discussions constructive and dynamic. Building solidarity and community is more critical now than ever, and I appreciate you all for participating in this one!

    Olivia


    Olivia Blake (she/her)

    orhysb@gmail.com

    CLA: Co-Chair, Legislative Committee

    ALA: Coordinator, Social Responsibilities Round Table Action Council




    Original Message


  • 7.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Jan 29, 2025 07:57 PM
    If we are being honest with ourselves, ALA has yet to explain how any discussion of the term "boycott" would jeopardize the organization's non-profit status. This is simple censorship of a topic that is unpopular and borders on anti-Islamism. It is ironic that our profession prides itself on Intellectual Freedom and yet censors specific terms that some find offensive. I would not be surprised that we will eventually be banning terms like "diversity, inclusion, and equity," simply because of whichever political party is in power. 

    Derek Wilmott



    Original Message


  • 8.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Jan 29, 2025 09:14 PM
    Thanks Derek. I am passing on Tom Twiss' message below.
    Al

    Amazing! So it's even impermissible for one individual to quote another individual who endorses a boycott? More hypersensitivity on the part of ALA attorneys-which is especially pronounced when the issue of Palestine is involved. I think it would be useful to check with an outside attorney who specializes in IRS regulations. We were told a few years ago by a  COL representative that supporting the RIGHT of people to boycott Israel was a violation of IRS regulations. But when we challenged them on it (and provided a statement from the prominent constitutional attorney Jules Lobel) the ALA attorneys admitted there was no such restriction.

     

    Tom






    Original Message


  • 9.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Jan 29, 2025 08:31 PM
    This is outrageous. I was kicked off an APHA discussion over their weaponized ,repressive code of conduct . There was nothing antisemitic in this post.  It touched me deeply. The destruction of cultural and literary items should be actively opposed by a library association. I ask all of us to demand publishing this post and to support Mark.

    This reprimand is not different than the censorship of books and DEI that Trump implements.

    Please reverse your decision now 
    Karyn Pomerantz
    pomerantzkaryn6@gmail.com
    Retired GW SPH
    co-editor of the
    multiracialunity.org



    Original Message


  • 10.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Feb 01, 2025 04:34 PM

    Karyn, I agree, one hundred percent. If librarians want to claim intellectual freedom as a core value, maybe even our most important core value, we cannot continue to avert our gaze as the First Amendment rights and academic freedom of pro-Palestine students and faculty are routinely and brutally violated on our campuses, and library association members (many of them Jewish, just for the record) who speak up for Palestine are smeared as antisemites and accused of violating the Code of Conduct.

    The repression of peaceful, constitutionally protected pro-Palestine protest started over a year ago under the Biden administration and has been strongly opposed in statements issued by the ACLU, PEN America, AAUP, American Council of Learned Societies, and other organizations concerned with freedom of expression. This latest executive order from the Trump administration (and yes, I know there have been hundreds, not just this one, that require our attention) is aimed at taking the repression to a new level. Librarians should be speaking out against it.

    -- Mark



    ------------------------------
    Mark Hudson
    Co-chair, SRRT International Responsibilities Task Force (IRTF)
    Pittsburgh, PA, US
    ------------------------------

    Original Message


  • 11.  RE: Censored and censored once again on Connect

    Posted Feb 01, 2025 11:04 PM
    Thanks for your agreement and all your persistent work, Mark. As they say (paraphrasing): "at first, they came for the communists...and then they came for me ..."

    I am writing an abstract for APHA (public health) on resistance to fascism and hosting discussions on how we can protect our colleagues from getting punished for supporting Palestinians and others? Has anyone been rehired? I also need some historical examples of what succeeded and what did not. Let me know if you have any ideas.

    (For example, the Nazi government prohibited women scientists from working. Many other male academics weren't very supportive either, but others provided jobs outside of Germany and money. See Sisters in Science at your local library).

    thank you, karyn

    Karyn Pomerantz
    Co-editor of the multiracialunity.org blog





    Original Message