Author's Presentation on Oklahoma City
Bombing Incites Controversy
A front-page letter in the January 13 Perry Daily Journal sparked an effort to ban author Stephen Jones from speaking and selling his book at an upcoming event at the Perry (Okla.) Carnegie Library. Jones, who is Oklahoma bomber Timothy McVeigh's former attorney, has just written the controversial Others Unknown: The Oklahoma City Bombing Case and Conspiracy. McVeigh was arrested near Perry shortly after the April 19, 1995, bombing.
Letter-writer Jill Zimmer asserted at a January 19 city council meeting that she objected to Jones making money from book sales in the library, which is supported by tax dollars. However, City Attorney Bryce Kennedy, citing the First Amendment, advised the library board to go ahead with the January 29 talk, even though library policy prohibits using meeting rooms for commercial purposes.
“The meeting-room policy was intended to prevent Tupperware parties,” Library Director Karen Bigbee told American Libraries. “We have previously had children's authors and historians sell and sign their books at programs in the library, and it's not been an issue before.”
Posted January 25, 1999.
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