To the chagrin of its national leadership, the Dulles chapter of the National Organization for Women has come out in support of Virginia Delegate Richard Black's efforts to restrict the Internet in public libraries. As a member of the Loudoun County Library Board, Black wrote the library's controversial filtering policy, which is being challenged in court. (See previous story.)
Marie-Jose Ragab, president of the northern-Virginia-based chapter, told the Washington Post that her group took its stand to oppose sexual harassment, maintaining that the viewing of pornography in libraries creates a hostile environment for women. NOW's official position, according to the Post, is while it doesn't want pornography in libraries, it opposes Internet filtering software as overly restrictive.
The Dulles chapter previously defied the national group by supporting Paula Jones in her lawsuit against President Clinton. The parent organization has refused to get involved in the case.
Posted June 8, 1998.