Chattanooga, TN – A Chattanooga Public Library employee has been placed on leave after being accused of burning books written by political conservatives.
In a video posted to Instagram, Library Services Coordinator Cameron Williams could be seen setting fire to Ann Coulter’s “How to Talk to a Liberal (If You Must)” and President Donald Trump’s “Crippled America” while playing “F*** Donald Trump” by rapper YG in the background.
The Library Services Coordinator is normally tasked with deciding when to remove certain books from library circulation.
Library spokesperson Christina Sacco said that personal feelings play no part in deciding what materials are removed.
Sacco explained that implementation of bias in the removal process is a violation of library policy.
“It’s our job to ensure that all walks of life have access to information without judgment or prejudice,” Sacco said.
“Whether these materials were actually destroyed in a fire or even if they were just removed, that does go against our policy. Because at the end of the day, we believe that censorship has no place in a library.”
Cameron Williams, the library worker accused of book burning, is surprised he’s on leave because the books burned were not from the library.
“I have no idea why I’m on leave because my supervisor and city of Chattanooga HR have not told me the reason why,” he said Friday.
“The only information that was given is because there was a complaint of me removing items from the library. I’ve never removed items from the library, without permission, and without following proper protocol.”
Williams did not answer directly if he burned any library materials; he just said he didn’t break any library rules.
Williams also claimed that anyone that reported him was a “racist” trying to “sabotage” his wellbeing.
“It’s a perpetuation of white supremacy and racism, and it’s trying to hold back change. But we won’t quit.” he said.
Library Services Coordinator Cameron Williams, an anti-police protestor, was arrested this past July for blocking a highway.
“Whatever I do on my personal time is my personal time,” Williams proclaimed.
