An Ohio man is accused of burning 100 library books on African American, Jewish, and LGBTQ history, sparking a public outcry.
The Beachwood Police Department said the man checked out the books in April, days after he went to the Beachwood library branch on Shaker Boulevard and got a library card, NBC affiliate WKYC of Cleveland reported.
He allegedly told the librarian that his son was a member of the LGBTQ community and that he was trying to learn more about it, the news station reported.
The library was informed that the man had posted a photo showing a car trunk full of books on the site, Gab.com, according to WKYC. The books had Cuyahoga County Public Library stickers on them. The library was later informed that the man posted a video that appeared to show him burning all of the books he checked out.
The books cost around $1,700, the news station reported.
The Anti-Defamation League’s Center on Extremism described Gab as “an online hub for extremist and conspiratorial content” that it mostly used by “conspiracy theorists, white nationalists, neo-Nazis, members of militias and influential figures among the alt right.”
The Beachwood library directed NBC News to the Cuyahoga County Public Library, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesday.
Interfaith Group Against Hate, a coalition led by Jewish, Muslim, and Christian congregations, quickly condemned the man’s actions and said it wants to collect 1,000 “new books lifting up Black, Jewish, and LGBTQ+ voices,” Congregation Mishkan Or said in a Facebook post Monday.
“Whoever perpetuated the idea that you can burn us out of Cleveland, deport us out of Cleveland and deny our ideas and oppress us and frighten us to the corner…they picked the wrong community!” Rabbi Robert Nosanchuk from Mishkan Or said in a statement.
“And that community will continue to respond with love. Let’s use this moment to instead of standing in fear, to stand against this oppressive act, and deepen our convictions to learn about each other’s faith, race, culture and values,” he continued.
“We want to take this act of hate and turn it into a powerful symbol of unity, solidarity and love,” Rev. Ryan Wallace of Fairmount Presbyterian Church said.
Sen. Kent Smith, a Democrat, said the man’s actions “cannot be tolerated.”
“I condemn this act, not only because it is a crime against our institutions and community, but also because it is fundamentally un-American,” Smith said in a statement. “This act of violence is not just a crime against the public catalog of literature that was destroyed, but also is a violation of the marketplace of ideas that is a bedrock principle of American life.”
It’s not clear if the man faces charges. Police said the incident is most likely a civil matter, and the local prosecutor would determine if charges are warranted, according to WKYC. Police said the library wanted the incident documented and that the books are not yet overdue, the news station reported. The man will receive a bill once they are overdue, and the bill will be sent to collections if it is not paid.
Beachwood police said the investigation is ongoing and the city prosecutor will determine “whether there is probable cause to believe a crime was committed.”
“The Beachwood Police Department is actively investigating this incident,” Chief Dan Grispino said in a statement. “Our department stands against antisemitism and all acts of bias-motivated crimes. We are committed to vigorously investigating and prosecuting any hate-motivated incidents within the City of Beachwood. Our priority is to maintain a community that can thrive without the fear of threats of intimidation or violence.”
The prosecutor’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
