Journalism or Character Assassination: A Response to UTurn's Library Board Coverage
Reform Under Fire: How Institutions Fight Back Against Library Independence.
UTurn's recent article attacking Echo Schneider's fitness to serve as library board president represents a departure from balanced journalism in favor of guilt by association tactics. While attempting to raise concerns about library governance, the article relies heavily on personal attacks and tenuous connections rather than examining Schneider's actual performance or qualifications.
The Library Battle is Not a Local Fight
The current controversy extends far beyond local issues though . As reported by Them: "Republican officials in at least eight states are pushing to completely withdraw from the American Library Association (ALA)... Montana State Library Commission withdrew all state libraries from ALA membership" (Riedel, 2023)
Arizona
Idaho
Illinois
Georgia
Louisiana
South Carolina
Wyoming
Montana (already withdrawn)
Montana State Library Commission's specific reasoning for leaving the ALA is because the supposedly storied organization "undermines the shared goals of Montana libraries.”
Further, U.S. Senators Marco Rubio, Kevin Cramer, and Mike Braun demanded suspension of federal funding.
American Library Association Controversy
The UTurn article ignores the significant context that eight states are currently considering withdrawing from the ALA, with Montana having already done so. This exodus follows the ALA president's self-identification as a "Marxist lesbian" and concerns about the organization's ideological shift. Many library professionals seek alternatives for professional development and policy guidance while maintaining core library principles.
ALA’s recent President (2023-2024), Emily Drabinski, tweeted, "I just cannot believe that a Marxist lesbian who believes that collective power is possible to build and can be wielded for a better world is the president-elect of [the ALA]. I am so excited for what we will do together. Solidarity!"
Historical Context of Marxism in Practice
To understand the justifiable concerns about institutional Marxism, it's important to note documented historical impacts:
The Black Book of Communism (Harvard University Press, 1997) compiled death tolls under Marxist regimes [I requested Christian County Library add this book to their collection but was denied.]:
USSR: 20 million deaths
China: 65 million deaths
Vietnam: 1 million deaths
North Korea: 2 million deaths
Cambodia: 2 million deaths
Eastern Europe: 1 million deaths
Latin America: 150,000 deaths
Africa: 1.7 million deaths
Afghanistan: 1.5 million deaths
These numbers provide context for why many Americans are concerned about institutional embrace of Marxist ideology.
World Library Association
Rather than evaluate the WLA's stated goals or achievements, UTurn attempts to discredit it through selective portrayal of certain members. The organization appears focused on providing alternative resources for libraries seeking local control over policies - a legitimate aim in library governance.
The WLA's stated mission focuses on:
Local control over library policies
Professional development alternatives
Community standards in collection development
Transparent governance processes
From their website: "Our mission is simple, Your Library, Your Way™. We make best practice suggestions, you decide whether to use them."
Echo Schneider's Record
Notably absent from UTurn's coverage is any substantive criticism of Schneider's actual work as board president. Instead, the article relies on attacking others associated with WLA and implying guilt through these connections. This approach sidesteps fundamental questions about her competence and performance.
Notable absences from UTurn's coverage include:
- Any specific criticisms of her board decisions
- Evidence of policy violations
- Complaints about her leadership
- Problems with her qualifications
Instead, UTurn relies on guilt by association through:
- Links to unrelated individuals
- Speculation about motives
- Attacks on WLA members
- Mischaracterization of professional affiliations
Assassination Tactics
The article employs several concerning techniques:
Uses the tragic suicide of Shawn McBreairty to attack others
UTurn wants to tell us about the high rate of suicide among Trans teens. What about the high rate of suicide among men?
Presents one-sided allegations against Vicki Baggett without evidence or response
They never quote Vicki or give evidence of racism from anything she actually says.
The articles that malign her use the same tactics as UTurn.
Characterizes Dan Kleinman's criticism of public figures as harassment
The lawsuit against Dan Kleinman for exposing the work of Amanda Jones, a public figure who entered the fight on behalf of the ALA demonstrates that the ALA will use Lawfare to defend themselves rather than Free Speech and Public Discourse.
Portrays Bruce Friedman's legal challenges as inherently illegitimate
Alternately, if Friedman was a leftist, they might have said, using the system to fight the system is brilliant.
It’s how you defeat an unjust system. You can’t win against a bureaucracy more interested in reelections than in children by fighting it fairly.
A More Balanced View:
A fair examination would:
Focus on Schneider's actual decisions and leadership
Consider legitimate debates about ALA's current direction
Acknowledge that professional associations can have diverse membership
Evaluate library policies based on their merits rather than personal attacks
The article ultimately fails to make a case against Schneider's fitness to serve, instead relying on character assassination by proxy. In doing so, it undermines rather than advances important discussions about library governance and community standards.
Analysis of UTurn's Coverage: Logical Fallacies and Source Review
Guilt by Association Fallacies
UTurn attempts to discredit Echo Schneider through WLA membership without addressing her performance:
"Echo Schneider (fka Alexzander), is a 'Team Member' of the 'World Library Association'. This new group's apparent goal is to damage the oldest, largest, and most respected library association in the world" (UTurn article)
This ignores that, as reported in the Gillette News Record:
"What I would like to see for it is that it be a resource for librarians, as well as those who want to make their libraries more conservative" (Bear, quoted in Gallardo, 2023)
Using McBreairty's death to taint Echo & WLA:
In 2024, Shawn McBrearity passed away. He took his own life. In the UTurn article, they state, “He’s also famous for baiting and suing multiple school districts in Maine. McBrearity died by self inflicted gunshot in June 2024.” Without taking a break, UTurn ties his suicide directly to his activism against radical school districts.
In another article, Uturn links to, it makes accusations against McBreairty that can’t be established. "It's not known whether Shawn McBreairty saw MFM's 'Attack' video during that time, but it seems likely he would have at least heard about it" (Busby, 2018)
This last quotation from Busby represents pure speculation presented as fact and neither Busby nor UTurn wants want you to dig deeper.
Ad Hominem Attacks
Against Dan Kleinman:
The defamation and false light lawsuit appears aimed at silencing criticism of public officials. As reported in Library Journal:
"Jones is still awaiting judgment on the re-petition of her original case in Louisiana, spent a year considering taking action against Kleinman before finally deciding to sue him" (O'Brien & Weidmayer, 2024)
Against Vicki Baggett:
The allegations rely entirely on unverified student claims. From Popular Information:
"Popular Information previously reported that, in 2015, Baggett posted an image of the Confederate Flag to her Facebook page" (Legum & Crosby, 2022)
However, no direct evidence of classroom misconduct is provided beyond student allegations. No quotes are provided of racism. Getting all of the information second-hand is some evidence, but what they have as direct quotes is not racism. None of the students provided direct quotes or video evidence about her beliefs related to intermarriage between people with different skin color. For these types of accusations, we need an exceptionally high standard of evidence. We cannot accept the word of people anymore.
False Equivalence
Equating ALA membership with endorsement of all member views:
The Gillette News Record reports a more nuanced reality:
"Butler said it's meant to give people a choice, and he likened it to car companies... 'Some people like Fords, some people like Chevys, and right now the only dealership you've got in town is a Ford'" (Gallardo, 2023).
The ALA is an organization that represents some Librarians. It is not homogeneous, nor is it the only one. To say it is the only one is a misrepresentation of nearly nine other organizations out there, some of them just as radical as the ALA. Why would it be wrong for some Libraries to have a place to go that doesn’t have the radical or Marxist beliefs that the ALA espouses? Shouldn’t Librarians have more than one politburo to apply to? More than one Commissar?
Previously, Dan Kleinman was accused of calling for Censoring of books, but he challenged the ALA writer, Marta L. Magnuson, and she conceded the points. Maybe UTurn in Education will concede they were wrong for using these fallacies against Echo Schneider and apologize as Ms. Magnuson did?
Conclusion
UTurn's coverage fails basic journalistic standards by:
Ignoring relevant context
Using guilt by association
Presenting selective evidence
Engaging in character assassination
Avoiding substantive policy discussion
The broader debate about library governance deserves better than partisan attacks masquerading as journalism. Whenever I write about UTurn, I diligently work to apply the highest level of journalistic standards. I try to use these guidelines more and more in my writing for journalism, notwithstanding when I do Satire which is a separate animal.
I do so because they claim that we have no journalistic ethics on our side. UTurn’s article on Echo was demonstrably a hit piece with no journalistic integrity or value. It lacked any truth. It doesn’t frame the issue for why Echo shouldn’t be a board member or the Board president in a substantive way.
They have no arguments for or against Echo in their article beyond she has associated herself with patriots who fight against the Sexually Exploitative Material in our Libraries. Good on Echo, then. Shame on UTurn for supporting the wrong side of this issue once again.
I’ll begin to close with a quotation from Heterodoxy in the Stacks:
"Yet, I can't help but think the sheer, litigious drama of the years-long battle was high in emotion and low on results" (Dudley, 2024)
If we would have a more productive dialogue about library governance rather than personal attacks, maybe there wouldn’t be the need for a WLA or for heroes like Echo Schneider.
Because the ALA has made that impossible and will continue to support directly or indirectly lawfare against anyone that stands against them, we need heroes in the Library standing against these Character Assassinations by people who lost their love for humanity a long time ago.
There be dragons in the stacks…
Bonus Reading
AI Analysis of the Merits of Jones’ Case against Kleinman
(Using Claude.AI, which has some Generative AI use for Legal understanding, I asked it to analyze the lawsuit. Here were the results. In fairness and transprancy, here is the question I asked Claude. “Could you write up a summary and an opinion for me? Does this lawsuit have standing?”
Analysis: Jones v. Kleinman Defamation Suit
Summary of Claims
Amanda Jones, a Louisiana school librarian, filed simultaneous federal lawsuits in Louisiana and New Jersey against Dan Kleinman alleging:
1. Defamation
2. False light invasion of privacy
3. Claims damages exceeding $75,000
Key allegations center on Kleinman's statements that Jones:
- "Sexualizes" children
- Is a "groomer"
- Provides inappropriate materials to minors
- "Preys on kids"
Legal Standing Analysis
Several issues affect this lawsuit's viability:
1. Public Figure Status
- Jones appears to be a public figure in library debates
- Has written a book and engaged in public advocacy
- Higher standard of "actual malice" would apply
- Must prove Kleinman knew statements were false or acted with reckless disregard
2. Opinion vs. Fact
- Many statements appear to be opinion based on disclosed facts
- Courts generally protect opinion speech about public issues
- Terms like "groomer" have been ruled hyperbolic opinion in similar cases
3. Jurisdictional Issues
- Filing in two jurisdictions suggests uncertainty about proper venue
- Personal jurisdiction over Kleinman in Louisiana may be questionable
- Federal diversity jurisdiction requirements appear met
4. First Amendment Protection
- Statements involve matters of public concern
- Made in context of ongoing policy debate
- Courts traditionally protect robust public discourse
- High bar for restricting political speech
Opinion on Viability
This lawsuit faces significant challenges:
1. Legal Hurdles
- Public figure status raises burden of proof
- Opinion defense likely available
- First Amendment protections substantial
- Jurisdictional complications
2. Practical Issues
- Difficult to prove actual damages
- High cost of litigation in two jurisdictions
- Risk of amplifying disputed statements
- Potential Streisand effect
3. Similar Case Precedents
- Courts have dismissed comparable suits
- Protected opinion in educational debates
- High bar for defamation of public figures
- Strong First Amendment precedents
The lawsuit appears designed more as a pressure tactic than a viable legal claim. Given recent Supreme Court precedents protecting political speech and opinion, it faces substantial barriers to success.
This pattern of using defamation suits to silence critics of institutional positions, while rarely successful legally, can impose significant costs on defendants and chill public debate. The timing and coordination with other institutional actions suggests it is part of a broader strategy to discourage library reform efforts.
A previous case of defamation was brought against Kleinman, dismissed, brought again, and dismissed again. Here is the link to that article. More work that UTurn could have done with a little digging, a little journalism, and a little honesty with the public. Yet, for in their article, it has been easier to accuse rather than to observe and report.
References
Busby, C. (2018). "Maine First Mania." The Bollard.
Courtois, S. et al. (1997). "The Black Book of Communism." Harvard University Press.
Dudley, M. (2024). "Librarianship and Political Philosophy: Seven Arguments for Neutrality and Intellectual Freedom." Heterodoxy in the Stacks.
Gallardo, J. (2023). "Two library board members join, help start new library association." Gillette News Record.
Jones v. Kleinman. Case No. 2:24-cv-10750. United States District Court for the District of New Jersey. Filed November 26, 2024. Complaint for Defamation and False Light Invasion of Privacy.
Legum, J., & Crosby, R. (2022). "How to ban 3600 books from school libraries." Popular Information.
[Local Board] Minutes. (2023-2024). "Library Board of Trustees Public Records."
Montana State Library Commission. (2023). "Resolution to Withdraw from ALA Membership."
O'Brien, K., & Weidmayer, M. (2024). "Librarian Amanda Jones Files New Defamation Lawsuits." Library Journal.
Riedel, S. (2023). "8 States Are Pushing to Leave a National Library Group Because Its President Is a Marxist Lesbian." Them.
World Library Association. (2024). "Mission Statement and Governance Guidelines."