Library board chairman melts down

By John Labriola - The Citrus County Library Advisory Board (LAB) shut down a discussion about viewpoint discrimination in the libraries last week, but not before a board member's public meltdown over the Citrus Crusader's coverage of his mishandling of a proposed Charlie Kirk book display.

Chairman Justin Strickland, still upset about the flak he's received for opposing a motion by LAB member Rhys Campbell in October to have a temporary display of the late conservative icon's books because it would supposedly be "political," lashed out at this blogger, who was out of town, in an angry tirade.

Strickland, the executive pastor at Crystal River Church of God, claimed I told one of his parishioners that he "preaches liberalism from the pulpit," which is completely false. I've never heard Strickland preach (or even start a LAB meeting with a prayer). When I heard what was said a few days later, I reached out to the parishioner, an acquaintance, who denied telling Strickland such a thing. (I have a text message to prove it.) The accusation is frankly laughable, since a parishioner obviously knows what his pastor preaches and wouldn't need to be told.

Strickland also claimed I "get paid" by my lobbying organization to attend LAB meetings, which is also untrue. Unless I say I'm speaking on behalf of the organization, I'm there as a concerned citizen.

Mr. Strickland, I know you're reading this, so please dust off your Bible, where you'll find that bearing false witness is not Christian, and making untruthful public accusations against someone who isn't in the room to defend himself shows both cowardice and a lack of character.

Back to the meeting...

Campbell had an item on the agenda to discuss political bias in the library system's Black History Month displays, which featured a number of books by far-left authors promoting critical race theory and violence against the police, but lacked any conservative black authors. After the agenda was published, library staff added some books by Ben Carson and others. The board felt that settled the issue and voted to end the discussion while they await a rewrite of display policy directed by the county commission to focus on "literacy, lifelong learning and cultural enrichment" while avoiding displays promoting political content and sexuality.

But several audience members said the discussion should continue because of the basic lack of fairness in not allowing a Charlie Kirk book display.

Ray Kalavsky of Inverness said Kirk, like Martin Luther King Jr., was assassinated for his beliefs, but King has a book display while Kirk doesn't.

"The only difference between those two men is the color of their skin," he said.

Ray Brown of Homosassa said the board needed to stop cowering to hateful leftists, who mobbed the LAB's October meeting to viciously attack Kirk.

"I realize you may face violence for this from the left. We have all seen the hatred they display when they don't get their way, [but] this is not the time to be afraid but to stand up to tyranny," he said.

Residents also addressed Strickland's tirade, which was applauded by leftists in the room but met with sharp criticism from conservatives.

Joe Papp, a resident of Citrus County for 20 years, told the board it was "wrong" and "ridiculous."

Eric Ball of Crystal River said he thought Strickland's diatribe was "terrible" and didn't understand the hatred directed at Christian conservatives, adding "the Bible explains we will be hated if we name the name of Christ."