Proud Boys disrupt Pride Month library event in South Bend
filmed themselves entering the Tutt branch of the St Joseph County Public LibraryThey entered a side room to the main library space and started to ask librarians what “gives you the right” to talk about sexuality to kids.
The small number of kids in the room are seen leaving, while the far-right protestors continue to try to engage with the librarians.“What gives you the right to give them questions of sexuality at such a young age?” asks the man who appears to be the group’s ringleader.“This is perversion and it can’t be taught to children.”One of the librarians points out the children were present with the permission of their parents, but this doesn’t wash with the men, who claim they still have “no right … what you want to do in your own home is up to you, but you can’t force this on children … sexuality is not a place for the library.”Someone, possibly the man filming the encounter, can be heard saying, “You’re grooming these children’s minds.”The librarians remain remarkably calm as they ask the men to leave.
The men refuse and eventually the police arrive and the Proud Boys are persuaded to leave. The filmed stand-off lasts for about 45 minutes.The reading event was postponed as most of the kids present had left by this point.Related: Dallas drag show for kids prompts street protest and conservative meltdownMarissa Gebhard, communications manager for the library system, told the South Bend Tribune, “It is a shock and we are very disappointed an event celebrating LGBTQ+ communities was disrupted.
Our staff are very affected by it.”The library later issued a statement saying, “On Monday, June 27 at 5 p.m. the Tutt Branch had planned to offer a Rainbow Storytime program followed by bubble wrap rainbow painting.
