this post was submitted on 11 May 2025
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Summary

A man checked out 100 books from Beachwood Library in Beachwood, Ohio, covering Jewish history, African-American history, and LGBTQ topics, and later posted social media videos showing the books with captions referencing “cleansing” libraries before burning them.

Princeton University’s Bridging Divides Initiative alerted the library about the posts.

The books were worth about $1,700. Since they are not overdue, the library will bill the man later.

Police say the matter is civil unless he fails to pay. He is now banned from returning to the library.

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[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

If everyone did that tomorrow, it would be well worth it.....

Before its legal to do that, we can identify and jail assholes who hate. So I propose that this is ok, but also mark every controversial book and follow sketchy guys and gals trying to check those out.

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

What was that thing we learned from history about burning books again?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Should justice be served, the irony is that this man will end up paying for 100 brand new books on civil rights and LGBT topics.

Oh wait... Ohio? Nevermind, not holding my breath...

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

This has been happening for a while... but I still remember the not too long ago when many conservatives were talking about how all libs were book burning Nazis. Never saw a lib burn a book, but they are, and doing it far more often and with far greater volume.

[–] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

He'll just burn it. Got to hit him with it...

[–] [email protected] -4 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)
[–] [email protected] 9 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago) (2 children)

pretty sure it's not legal to destroy something you don't own. The fact that he's getting fined is a pretty clear indicator.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

He's getting fined by the library. But, it can be illegal to destroy something you don't own. Take for example vandalism. The key for even that is eluding or attempting to elude cleaning it up/paying to do so. Think about it. Is it illegal to dent someone's car? Not if you pay for repairs. It's the fleeing the scene without paying that it becomes a crime.

Same could be said here. Yeah he made a vid glorifying an anti-LGBT stance on YouTube by burningthe books. But its fine if you return a full copy in same or better condition to whom you borrowed the book.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

He's getting fined by the library for the same amount he'd get fined for "losing" it since it's $17 a book. That doesn't seem like it's illegal or that it matters.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

To destroy someone else’s property?

[–] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

If he hadn't rented it they might consider calling it that but that's a normal "oops the books gone" fine.

[–] [email protected] 39 points 3 weeks ago

Ohio let's you check out 100 books at a time?

[–] [email protected] 8 points 3 weeks ago

republicans are swine.

[–] [email protected] 19 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

In Ohio felony theft is over $1000.

[–] [email protected] 37 points 3 weeks ago

He doesn't want us to read those book, by the same logic, would it be OK to cut off that mans genitalia because we don't want him to reproduce?

[–] [email protected] 26 points 3 weeks ago (2 children)

If I were dictator I would announce a new LGBTQ and African American wing of the library and dedicate it to him, with a placard showing his payment to the library for the books he has to pay back, but he doesn’t deserve to have his name anywhere…

[–] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago (1 children)

Just remind yourself that if that were the case you absolutely would be a dictator.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

I don’t want it

[–] [email protected] 11 points 3 weeks ago

I think having his name represented on something in which he hates is absolutely deserved and hilarious.

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