Public libraries are pillars of democracy, ensuring access to diverse perspectives and information. But across Arkansas, politicians are weaponizing censorship, dictating which books belong on library shelves — and punishing those who push back.
That’s exactly what happened to Patty Hector, the former director of the Saline County Library, who was fired after opposing efforts to ban books. This wasn’t just an employment decision — it was an unconstitutional act of government retaliation designed to silence a public servant for defending the right to read.
The ACLU of Arkansas has filed a federal lawsuit challenging this abuse of power. Our lawsuit argues that Ms. Hector’s termination violated her First Amendment rights. It also argues that the county government unconstitutionally punished Ms. Hector for speaking out when it passed an ordinance shifting firing authority from the Library Board to the County Judge.
This case is about more than one librarian. If politicians can fire public employees for standing up against censorship, what’s next? We cannot allow government officials to silence voices they disagree with or dictate what information the public can access.
We need you to stand with us:
- Follow the case and read the full complaint here: https://www.acluarkansas.org/en/cases/hector-v-brumley
- Speak out against censorship in your community. Attend local meetings, support your library staff, and demand accountability from elected officials.
- Be prepared to support libraries this legislative session.
- Support the ACLU of Arkansas. We’re fighting back against government overreach and standing up for free expression.
When defending books becomes a fireable offense, democracy is at risk. Thank you for standing with us in the fight for intellectual freedom!