Reinstate LaVonnia Moore

 

Tuesday, June 17, 2025 5:10 PM

I arrived early for a meeting with the Pierce County Friends of the Library. I recently volunteered to be their Treasurer.  

The meeting didn't start until 5:30, so I took a look around the library, one of my favorite things to do (this has been true for my entire life). Looking at the new books, I discovered this mammoth surprise - Myth and the Greatest Generation by Kenneth D Rose.  

Months ago, I had heard of the book on a history TikTok. I checked with both Pierce and Ware County libraries. I checked online sites. I checked with Michael Jacobs, a friend and used book specialist. Sadly, it was not to be found.

But there it was, on the bookshelf of my local library! LaVonnia Moore, the talented local librarian and branch manager, unbeknownst to me, had requested it through Three Rivers Regional Library and was able to secure a copy.

This is not just something she did for me. She always prioritizes books that patrons have requested.  

That's not all she does for the library. She is creative, experienced, and dedicated, bringing a wide range of events and activities for all age levels and patrons.

At our meeting, we discussed many of the exciting events planned for the summer reading program, including the Color Ball scheduled for the 28th. Active, caring, and engaged, I have never met a finer librarian. She also talked about the new Director at Three Rivers. She said there were a lot of new rules to adjust to, but he was fair and caring, and looked forward to working with him.

There was no sign of what was to come.

Wednesday was a closed day for the library. But that was the day she was called and summarily dismissed. Why? There was a PATRON CREATED display, primarily based on book cover colors, that included an award-winning book with a theme involving a transgender child. It was not pornographic. It was positive and caring.  

But the Christian Nationalist extremists who have been yapping at our library for over a year took it as an excuse to pressure the Pierce County Commission into firing LaVonnia. Three Rivers caved when it realized the county funding was at stake.

This is nighmarishly wrong. Hopefully, pressure will be exerted to reverse it and rightfully reinstate LaVonnia.

But it is up to you, Pierce County residents and library users. Suppose the commissioners, being politicians, fear the loud, strident, and bigoted extremists. In that case, they may need to learn that they need to fear instead the hundreds who use and love our library and are opposed to banning and censorship. Then, LaVonnia will be reinstated.  

Of course, it may not have sunk in to the commissioners how illegal and un-American what they did was.

However, over time, if they don't act, they may eventually figure it out.

There is a GoFundMe titled Help LaVonnia Moore Seek Justice and Equality. I highly encourage donations. It will help in her legal efforts.

I apologize that this is only a brief outline of what happened, but for more details, if you are local, please check your Facebook feeds and The Blackshear Times. Alicia Moore, LaVonnnia's sister, is invaluable to check out.

Make no mistake, library patrons, concerned citizens, and the Three Rivers Staff. If you don't stand your ground, the extremists will keep pushing and taking. They will not stop until the library is nothing more than a Christian Nationalist Reading Room.