All Are Welcome Here

About 150 community members came together for a read-in on Sunday, organized with just 30 hours' notice. Our presence affirmed a shared belief: that public library spaces should remain open and accessible to all.

Sylva Pride reserved the JCPL community room for a private event while the library was closed, following proper procedures and paying the required fee. In response, the Jackson County GOP brought in the group Mass Resistance to organize a protest and called on locals to oppose Sylva Pride’s inclusion.

What’s happening goes beyond a single event. We are seeing efforts to censor not just materials, but also to limit who can reserve public spaces. Public libraries are built on the principles of free speech and equal access. These values are protected by the First Amendment and must be upheld for everyone.

Thank you all for coming out and helping to spread the word. Our peaceful, calm presence far outshone those down at the fountain.