FAIR News: a Call for Intellectual Freedom and Library Neutrality
Newsletter
Dear Friends of FAIR,
In recent weeks, an unsettling situation unfolded at the Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library, which has compelled us at FAIR to speak out. Cathy Simpson, the library's CEO and an advocate for the principles we hold dear, was terminated from her position following her courageous stand for viewpoint diversity and against increasing censorship trends in library curation.
Cathy, who had dedicated over a decade of her life to the library, authored an insightful article published by the Lake Report on February 22. In it, she highlighted the critical importance of library neutrality and pluralism—a stance fully aligned with FAIR’s mission to uphold civil liberties and promote universal equality. Her commitment to intellectual freedom and her alarm at threats to free speech within public libraries in the United States and Canada resonated with many who share our values.
Unfortunately, her principled stand was met with significant opposition. Following a letter to a local news website that misrepresented her views as “right-wing dog whistles” and accusations from co-workers of promoting “right-wing propaganda,” and an anti-DEI agenda, the library’s board of directors placed Cathy on paid leave, leading to her eventual termination on March 19—just three years shy of her retirement.
Both misrepresentations and falsehoods influenced the board’s decision. These inaccuracies have not only damaged FAIR’s reputation, but have also but have also inflicted significant financial and professional harm on Cathy. It is crucial to clarify that while FAIR has indeed challenged diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs at public institutions, our concerns are rooted in a deep commitment to the principle that individuals should be judged by the content of their character, not the color of their skin—a legacy championed by Martin Luther King Jr and the Civil Rights Movement.
Cathy’s termination for advocating library neutrality and defending intellectual freedom represents a concerning development in the ongoing debate over censorship and free expression. It underscores the need for vigilant support of those who dare to speak out for the principles of true diversity of thought and the free exchange of ideas.
We stand with Cathy. FAIR is committed to supporting her and others facing similar challenges for defending the values we all hold dear. We encourage our community to rally in support of Cathy and the broader cause of intellectual freedom. Now, more than ever, it is essential that we come together to protect and promote the principles of fairness, understanding, and humanity.
Warmly,
The Team at the Foundation Against Intolerance & Racism
Resoliving the Race(ism) Dilemma
The belief in "race" and practice of racialization have served to maintain social and economic hierarchies (race/ism) across human history. Join FAIR Advisor Greg Thomas, Sheena Mason, and Carlos Hoyt virtually on Friday, April 5, 2024
from 7-8:30 PM ET & Saturday, April 6, 2024 from 9 AM-3 PM ET to learn how racialization produces the illusion of “race” and maintains racism. Learn how to deracialize your worldview, practice antiracialization, and recognize the racelessness of the human species.
The Current State of Student Journalism and Its Implications for the Future of American Media
Join FAIR Wednesday, April 10th at 6pm ET for a lively discussion about the increasing hurdles student journalists face today. We will sit down with FAIR Fellow Sahar Tartak, a sophomore at Yale and editor-in-chief of the Yale Free Press, and Peter Savodnik, Senior Editor at The Free Press.
Teaching about Identity: Lessons from The Cultural Revolution
Join FAIR in Education Thursday April 11th at 6pm ET for a conversation with Xi Van Fleet and Dr. Pingnan Shi, both survivors of the Chinese Cultural Revolution, as we discuss education in 1960s China and how to avoid similar mistakes in today's K-12 classrooms.
EDI and Race Ideologies in Canadian Universities
Join Heterodox Academy and the Instititute for Liberal Studies for the 3rd annual Colloquia conference on April 25th and 26th! This two-day conference explores the impacts, both positive and negative, of EDI and race ideologies on Canadian university campuses.
Dissident Dialogues
Join Dissident Dialogues (in partnership with UnHerd and sponsored by Ground News) in New York City on May 3rd & 4th! The world’s leading and most original thinkers gather for two days of debate, discussion, and disagreement. Discussions will feature FAIR advisors Michael Shellenbeger and Lee Fang, as well as Richard Dawkins, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, John McWhorter, Steven Pinker, Konstantin Kisin, Francis Foster, John Vervaeke, Thomas Chatterton Williams, Kathleen Stock, Freddie Sayers, Bridget Phetasy, Diana S. Fleischman, Africa Brooke, Alex O'Connor, and Mary Harrington!
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Thank you for sharing the shocking story of the firing of Niagara-on-the-Lake Public Library CEO Cathy Simpson. I also recommend reading this news article covering the situation that is published in one of Canada's major newspapers: https://nationalpost.com/opinion/monica-harris-the-unjust-firing-of-ontario-librarian-who-challenged-dei-orthodoxy . There is also coverage of this unfolding situation in the Heterodoxy in the Stacks Substack https://open.substack.com/pub/hxlibraries/p/timeline-the-board-firing-of-niagara?r=1mq6c5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web . I also recommend exploring this newly forming organization of library professionals who states that "Their motivations stemmed from a perceived shift in the library profession towards what they viewed as divisive social activism" https://open.substack.com/pub/hxlibraries/p/introducing-the-association-of-library?r=1mq6c5&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web
This is exactly why I pay for this newsletter. You all are doing such great, pro-humanity, work.