CROSBY KEMPER III TEAPOT TEMPEST: KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKER DEFENDING ISRAEL HATER AMID OUTBURST ISN'T DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH!!!
First thing first . . . After awhile, Crosby Kemper III parading around the Kansas City Public Library like the belle of the ball and/or holding court in a magnificent building subsidized by his family fortune and local taxpayers is kind boring.
As we noted previously, both the Kansas City Public Library AND the Mid-Continent Library are outdated institutions that function mostly to provide hobos a place to make BM and their subsidy in the age of the Internets now seems like a waste of resources that would be better spent connecting po'folk to more current online content.
Nowadays, the Kansas City Library gets most of its recognition for providing a place for the old school crowd to discuss issues where their votes don't really count in the long run.
A recent slap fight and a biased bit of op/ed on the topic recently sent the Internets ablaze WITHOUT MUCH MENTION THAT IT WAS ALL IN DEFENSE OF A CRACKPOT ISRAEL/U.S. HATER and his "peace activism" from the comfort of this cowtown.
In fairness, here's a brief description of the hot mess for background from the library . . .
The Kansas City Public Library continues to work through the aftermath of an incident near the end of its May 9, 2016, event featuring longtime Middle East envoy Dennis Ross, which resulted in the arrest of two people including a Library manager by off-duty police.
The episode at the Library’s Plaza Branch arose from a question to Ross, posed by a local activist during the evening’s question-and-answer session. The reaction by members of an outside security detail, who immediately accosted the questioner, was improper and an infringement on free speech, Library Director Crosby Kemper maintains. And he says the ensuing arrests were unwarranted.
“The Library strives to be a place where people of all points of view can feel safe, welcome, and free to express themselves in an appropriate way,” Kemper says. “And so this incident deeply troubles us.”
What happened:
The off-duty officers were part of a small, private security squad arranged by the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Kansas City, one of the Library’s partners in the event. That was to supplement standard Library security. The activist, Jeremy Rothe-Kushel, was first to the microphone when Ross’ presentation turned to Q&A, and his question inferred that the U.S. and Israel have engaged in state-sponsored terrorism. Ross responded and, when Rothe-Kushel attempted to follow up, he was grabbed by one of the private security guards and then by others in the private security detail. Steven Woolfolk, the Library’s director of programming and marketing, attempted to intervene, noting that public discourse is accepted and encouraged at a public event held in a public library.
Rothe-Kushel was subsequently arrested for trespassing and resisting arrest. Woolfolk was charged with interfering with his arrest. Their cases are pending.
Kemper termed the response of private security and police “an egregious violation of First Amendment rights.
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Back up . . .
THE SECURITY HIRED BY THE CO-SPONSOR HELPED TO PROTECT THE EVENT BUT THE POLICE ARE SOMEHOW TO BLAME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T FOLLOW CROSBY KEMPER III ORDERS TO THE LETTER???
Thinking . . .
GETTING INTO A SHOVING MATCH WITH SECURITY AND OFF-DUTY POLICE AT A PUBLIC LIBRARY TEA PARTY ISN'T FREE SPEECH . . . IT'S PRIVILEGE AND STINKS LIKE A PUBLICITY STUNT GIVEN THAT MOST PEOPLE WHO INTERFERE WITH COPS ARE LUCKY TO BE BREATHING AFTERWARDS!!!
The rules, protocols and talking points of the whole affair seem exceptionally genteel and silly in as much as any Kansas City conversation about terrorism, Israel or all the tea in China is mostly an exercise in farting above the waist for all the good that the pointless conversation will do.
Moreover . . .
If the Kansas City Public Library wants to defend Israel/U.S. hateration then let them hold a separate event and see how that goes over . . . Sticking up for some guy who got bum rushed because he wasn't smart enough to gauge the room wasn't an act of bravery but merely an embodiment of the same kind of entitlement that wouldn't work for any other resident of Kansas City.
And so . . . Some rude guy got thrown out of a boring chat session and somehow Crosby Kemper III is a hero of the 1st Amendment whilst most of Kansas City didn't know or care about the kerfuffle.
Meanwhile, it all makes great Internets conversation for keyboard warriors, fake tough guys and so many online trolls who would much rather express their own myopic worldviews online than risk being thrown around like pawns whist the richest guy in the room pretends that a library slap fight is relevant to the local discourse that has moved online and doesn't take Crosby III orders.
Long story short (too late) Library vs. Police and Security is a fight that Crosby III shouldn't start given the dependence of the institution for protection from so many dangerous hobos who don't care about international politics but are far more likely to stab patrons in the eye for no reason whatsoever.
You decide . . .
the library is still VERY relevant.
ReplyDeleteWhere else can I use windows vista?
Jews are always the eternal victim until they disagree with someone's viewpoint. Then they are just as much of a thug as the Nazis.
ReplyDelete^^^^ Crosby absolves you!
ReplyDeleteA Jewish guy with a different opinion is all that this was. Tony, you put a lot of time into nothing.
ReplyDelete^^^ EXCELLENT POINT!
ReplyDeleteSave us from self hate.
ReplyDeleteAny guy with that hat can't be all bad.
ReplyDeleteI support the library and Crosby III!
"As we noted previously, both the Kansas City Public Library AND the Mid-Continent Library are outdated institutions that function mostly to provide hobos a place to make BM... ."
ReplyDeleteObviously, someone does not use the library. Pity.
"If the Kansas City Public Library wants to defend Israel/U.S. hateration then let them hold a separate event and see how that goes over . . . "
Maybe the library was defending free speech, no matter how obnoxious that speech was.
Go to a Kansas City Atheist Coalition meeting and try voicing serious disagreement with them>
ReplyDeleteGo ahead. I dare you.
^^^^Why would you do that? Do you think you're going to change their closed minds? Or that they'll change your closed mind? Life's too short.
ReplyDeleteAs long as no one touched anyone and there were no "BLM" type thug interruptions, then any reasonable question relating to the subject matter should have been allowed.
ReplyDeleteFree Speech is, IS under attack.
From the Liberal fucks at the FCC to colleg campuses everywhere and the MSM, if you don't parrot the Progressive Line, then you run the risk of losing your job, your social status and your living. Free Speech and the right of assembly IS under attack.
This fucking jack off should have been able to speak.
KCPD looking like idiots again. Maybe time for a change in leadership.
ReplyDelete"...private security guards..."
ReplyDeleteClearly, their function wasn't to guard, it was to enforce.
The Palestinians took no part in the Holocaust, yet they are the ones being punished. Their situation is exactly the same as the Native Americans confronting Christian Invaders. Their attempts to protect their homeland are portrayed as a criminal uprising. They still have the keys to the homes they fled in 1948, & their new homes are still called "refugee camps" after 68 years!
It is not anti-semantic to demand justice for the Palestinians.
The Kansas City Atheist Coalition talk big but they are strangely silent on the issue of unsolicited bulk email.
ReplyDeleteThanks for posting this, Tony. I may side with Crosby but I agree mainstream press ignored this.
ReplyDeleteShithouser when do you plan to move so the Indians can have their land back?
ReplyDeleteOh I see, just talking out your ass again spreading your hate.
Tony since you can't tell the difference between the Mid-Continent Public Library and the Kansas City Public Library your thoughts on the matter are irrelevant.
ReplyDelete11:29 nailed it! The outstanding issue of our time and they are SILENT!
ReplyDeleteThe KCAC only cares about gays and trans now.
ReplyDeleteTheir new director is an ex pastor who came out as gay and is not promoting the anti gospel of atheism.
And Mr. Hyde still has string hair, though.
11:29 and 12:53 pm - thank you for caring about this issue. Whenever a politician (who hasn't stated his or her views on the topic) is mentioned in this blog, please inquire as to his or her views on unsolicited bulk email.
ReplyDelete10:59: "anti-semantic?"
ReplyDeleteDon't you have a Mensa IQ and are known for your expertise at Scrabble?
folks who have observed protests and public displays know that hardass reactions are usually counter-productive.
ReplyDeletein this case, the arrests are amplifying the attention given to the protester and appear to the public as overly hardass and ultimately unreasonable.
Crosby's right !!!
ReplyDeleteI agree with Crosby. I don't think interfering with police should be glamorized but everyone had a right to speak at this event. That is rare for any place in Kansas City.
ReplyDeleteEAT THE RICH
ReplyDeleteSince there were arrests, there were police reports. The names of the two aggressors should be public knowledge.
ReplyDeleteJust a vacancy...love don't live here anymore...
ReplyDeleteAu Contraire
ReplyDeleteI will have to disagree with my friend TKC on some of his points above.
TEAPOT TEMPEST
I think not. A foundational bedrock for the library's guiding principles is the free exchange of ideas in pursuit of knowledge.
KANSAS CITY PUBLIC LIBRARY WORKER DEFENDING ISRAEL HATER AMID OUTBURST ISN'T DEFENSE OF FREE SPEECH
Sorry, but wrong again. Please watch the video again. What outburst? Does an individual have a right to peacefully ask questions at an open public library event, during the question/answer session? If the speaker, event organizers, or library staff took offense, did they ask him to sit down or leave? No, they did not. Did the aggressive security/off-duty police identify themselves as such when manhandling the two men? No, they did not.
"..both the Kansas City Public Library AND the Mid-Continent Library are outdated institutions.."
If you're referring to their physical plant, then I won't argue the point.
"The reaction by members of an outside security detail, who immediately accosted the questioner, was improper and an infringement on free speech, Library Director Crosby Kemper maintains. And he says the ensuing arrests were unwarranted.
“The Library strives to be a place where people of all points of view can feel safe, welcome, and free to express themselves in an appropriate way,” Kemper says."
Mr. Kemper is simply defending the public at-large, commonsense, and is absolutely correct on this point.
Let's contrast this library episode in which two peaceful individuals were roughed up and arrested by police AT THE KC LIBRARY
.....to the recent episode involving.... KCMO Councilwoman Alissia Canady, who after her vehicle was prepared for towing due to long expired license plates, directly refused a police officers orders, got into an argument with responding officers, and was only released with her vehicle because KCPD decided to "de-escalate the situation" and not drag her out of the vehicle. She was issued a ticket after all this!
So, let's talk about the HYPOCRISY of the KCPD leadership in which a belligerent Councilwoman can argue with and refuse officer's orders after violating the law.......versus......two non-violent non-argumentative guys at the library who get roughed up and arrested!!! Forte should resign if he can't do better than this.
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ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteWow, this Tony guy is a real piece of shit.
ReplyDeleteWow! So many comments by people who either were not there or simply have an agenda and drive that agenda with lies and half truths. I was there and no fan of either the activist or the group sponsoring or co-sponsoring or whatever.
ReplyDeleteFreedom of speech by the activist was given. Problem was he does not have the "freedom" to dominate the conversation preventing others from asking their questions and that IS what happened. That ding dong was not only allowed to speak, but allowed to respond until this all became a "you are evil" rant. His mic was cut off by the library after he refused to leave and the security then had to forcibly remove the activist. As for the library guy, you are not in charge and certainly not in charge of the police that were there. What these two folks want is nothing more that hate, hate the cops and hate those Jews.
This is all nothing more than an anarchist movement, or at least, that is what this all leads to if society lets them have their way. Of course, I dare not disagree with a lib or I will be dehumanized and belittled to the extreme as a hater should I disagree with the left.....
Apparently 10:29, you did not watch the video and did not understand that the activist is himself, Jewish.
ReplyDeleteWhy did this story take almost five months to become public? Here is what I believe happened. The Dennis Ross staff made big mistakes when confronted with this activist. To drop charges would be to admit those mistakes, and open themselves up to lawsuits. The library asked for, and waited for the charges to be dropped. When that did not happen, the library went public with the story, knowing they would win in the court of public opinion. They are holding back on releasing the video of Steve Woolfolk being taken down, to provide more incentive to the Ross staff to drop the charges.
ReplyDelete