Amanda Jones, a high school librarian and president of the Louisiana Association of School Librarians, alleged in the lawsuit that a “public campaign” against her was launched after she spoke out against removing certain books from the Livingston Parish Library system at a board meeting.
The lawsuit says Citizens for a New Louisiana posted on Facebook on July 20, the day after the meeting, criticizing “anti-censorship” who opposed the transfer of “sexually explicit and erotic material aimed at eight- to 10-year-olds” to the department adults of the libraries.
A second post from July 22 specifically refers to Jones, asking why she is “fighting so hard to keep sexually explicit and pornographic material” in the children’s section. The lawsuit notes that a photo of Jones in the post is surrounded by a red circle with a white border, claiming it looks like a target.
Michael Lunsford, who leads the group, commented in the post that Jones is on the “public payroll” and “represents” the erotic character in the children’s department.
The account reportedly made several other posts in July and August referencing Jones and tagging her in the posts.
The lawsuit claims the posts have damaged Jones’ reputation and incited expressions of violence against her.
The lawsuit also alleges that Ryan Thames, who has a Facebook page called “Bayou State of Mind,” posted a meme of Jones on or around July 21, showing her smiling and sitting behind a office and to say that he supported teaching anal sex to 11-year-olds.
GOP lawmakers adopt ‘defund’ rallying cry for FBI, not police The Memo: What the latest dramatic twists in the Trump-FBI saga mean
The post was eventually removed, which Jones believes was the result of Facebook’s intervention, but the post circulated on social media, according to the lawsuit.
The lawsuit says the post caused Jones stress and emotional distress, and Thames continued to publicly mock Jones.
Citizens for a New Louisiana, Lunsford and Thames did not immediately return requests from The Hill for comment.
