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Kirk Cameron says he’s ‘prepared to assert my rights’ to host faith-based ‘story hours’ in public libraries

December 12, 2022 | | Print Article

Highlighting the importance for conservatives to take action against the advancement and promotion of progressive ideology in American culture, actor, writer and producer Kirk Cameron pushed back on public libraries that refused to host him and declared how far he is prepared to go “to assert [his] rights under the Constitution…”

Despite a willingness and, in some cases, seemingly active desire to host Drag Queen Story Hour events by public libraries across the nation, conservative children’s book publisher Brave Books has only been turned away by the same institutions in an effort to promote their December release, “As You Grow,” penned by Cameron.

Focused on teaching “the Biblical truths of the Fruit of the Spirit,” Cameron had reached out to more than 50 public libraries only to be turned away, and after asserting “We have to start fighting back, or we will lose our kids and this country,” he updated Fox News Digital on his willingness to go to court.

“One of the things I love about our country is its commitment to the sharing of knowledge and the free expression of ideas,” he told the outlet Sunday. “That is why I’m excited to bring Brave Books Story Hour to public libraries across the country. Unfortunately, though many of these libraries gladly housed the ‘Drag Queen Story Hour,’ several have refused to let me read about biblical wisdom from my new children’s book, ‘As You Grow.'”

“Today, I sent a letter to the directors of the Indianapolis Public Library (in Indianapolis, Indiana) and Scarsdale Public Library (in Scarsdale, New York) asking for the same opportunity the drag queens had this year to use a room in their libraries so I can read my new book and talk about love, joy and gentleness–character traits I think we all want to see in our children,” the actor explained.

“I hope these libraries welcome me to Indiana and New York–but should they refuse to rent me a room, like those used by drag queens in June,” Cameron continued, “I am prepared to assert my rights under the Constitution in court.”

Like the rejections previously reported, the libraries in question denied the faith-based message of “As You Grow” while actively promoting the “community’s greatest entertainers and literacy advocates, the drag queens!”

As an employee of the Indianapolis Public Library’s central location told Brave Books, “We really have a push. We have a strategic plan in place, so we are really looking at authors who are diverse. Authors of color. That’s really been our focus.”

Trent Talbot, CEO of Brave Books, reacted to the denials and said, “America’s woke libraries either need to stop hiding behind a mask of diversity or demonstrate their commitment to the type of inclusivity demanded and protected by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”

“Authors of faith–like Kirk Cameron–should not be blacklisted by the nation’s public libraries just because he teaches children about the same biblical wisdom embraced by our nation’s founders,” he added.

On Saturday, the publisher officially announced their own movement to counter Drag Queen Story Hour in the form of Brave Books Story Hour. “Let’s fill the schools, let’s fill the shelves, and let’s fill all of the story hour time slots with values of joy, peace and Jesus Christ,” the official release promoted.

As part of his letter to the public libraries, available to read on the Brave Books website, Cameron said, “So many of our communities, perhaps like yours, are facing rates of crime, abortion and murder well above the national average. I believe the children in your community would benefit from hearing a message teaching biblical wisdom as I explain in my new book.”

Urging them to reconsider their denial to host him, he wrote, “I hope our mutual commitment to the sharing of knowledge and ideas will afford me the opportunity to sit down and talk about my book with your patrons, bringing entertainment and comfort along with a profitable discussion that will be a blessing to everyone who attends.”

Fox News anchor Julie Banderas, who authored a previous installment for Brave Books, commented on Cameron’s willingness to go to court and tweeted in part “Go Brave and Kirk!” drawing a reaction from the publisher along with a reminder, “Thank you for your support! We are prepared for the fight! It is a GOOD fight.”

Kevin Haggerty
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