The ACLU of Missouri filed a federal lawsuit today against the Rolla Public Library on behalf of a man and an organization denied use of a public room at the Rolla Public Library because of a political viewpoint.
In January, Randy Johnson, of New Approach Missouri, attempted to reserve a room at the Rolla Public Library. He planned to conduct a training session for volunteers on how to lawfully and ethically collect signatures to advance a ballot proposition to legalize medical marijuana.
Johnson’s application to reserve a room at the Rolla Public Library was denied though it met the criteria for room usage. Per the Rolla Public Library’s meeting room policies, rooms are available on a first-come basis to community groups for meetings, provided that these gatherings are open to the general public and not for commercial activities.
Johnson was unconstitutionally discriminated against in accessing the library’s public spaces based on disagreement with his viewpoint.
“The Rolla Public Library violated Mr. Johnson’s fundamental constitutional rights in denying him access to a public forum for organizing a public event,” said Tony Rothert, ACLU of Missouri Legal Director. “His right to free speech was infringed upon by the library when it denied him access to the meeting rooms rather than following the library’s own policies.”
Public libraries exist to educate, support, and create a sense of community. The free services offered by libraries are a crucial part of what makes a neighborhood thrive. For many communities, the public library is a vital resource for things that many take for granted – internet use and continuing education, as well as the public spaces and special programs libraries offer.
Being unable to reserve the public access rooms at the Rolla Public Library required Johnson’s group to relocate training to a community center that charged for room use. For many community organizations, this is not an option.
