We the citizens of Monroeville, PA unite in response to the recent abuses of power by Monroeville Municipal Council members. We sign this petition as Monroeville residents to express our support of Monroeville Public Library and our right to free speech, our condemnation of the actions of municipal council members, and our commitment to making Monroeville a wonderful place for everyone to live.

We SUPPORT:

Monroeville Public Library

• As a resource for knowledge, learning, and public access to resources and materials
• As an  essential public service for our community
• As a public meeting space
• As a resource for unemployment, taxes, food and financial assistance, and other public services
• As a public space that is safe and welcoming to all of Monroeville's diverse population
• The rights of the employees of the library to work in a space where they are not threatened or intimidated

Monroeville Children's Library

• As a safe place for all children to learn, grow, and play
• as a safe place for afterschool programs, tutoring, story time, and other activities free and accessible to the public
• As a resource for parents to discuss the reality of all the family systems that exist in our community, as well as other topics of conversation and support for raising children
• Even if our own personal beliefs might reflect a variety of opinions, we support the rights of Monroeville Public Library and the Children's Library to display resources regarding the LGBTQ community in accordance with the first amendment, our Monroeville Municipality Public Charter, the Supreme Court ruling of Board of Education v. Pico, The Library Bill of Rights, and several other legislations which protect the rights of the library as a public institution.
• The rights of the LGBTQ community in Monroeville to live and exist without hate speech, threats, and intimidation

WE CONDEMN...

The Actions of Monroeville Municipal Council Members who... 

• Displayed hate speech on their personal Facebook page which is accessible to the public (Councilman Bill Krut)
• Made public threats to defund the library
• Made a council decision in secret, whether by official vote or unofficial meeting, to pressure the Municipal Manager and the employees of the library to take down the Pride display. This is an act of intimidation and censorship that violates the Sunshine Act
• Established what can be viewed as an unsafe and uncomfortable workplace for library employees. It's clear that the library employees felt that their jobs were at risk if the Pride display was not taken down.
• Have violated their oaths to serve the people of Monroeville indiscriminately following all the laws and ordinances, with fidelity, and upholding the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
• Have created and caused discontent, fear, chaos, confusion, and anger throughout our community for no apparent reason other than to remove access to knowledge, flex power, and intimidate members of the community

WE CONFIRM OUR COMMITMENT TO...

• The beautiful diversity of the Monroeville community which is what makes it a safe and wonderful place to live and raise children
• To the rights of all people in this community to live without fear, to dignity and safety, and to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
• To the democratic process which exists to express one's opinions and govern our society and the mechanisms which require our public officials to follow these democratic processes.

WE REQUEST...

• A written and public apology to the community by the Municipal Council, the Municipal Manager, and the Mayor
• An investigation by the State Legislature into the legality and facts of this situation, so that the public has adequate information about what has occurred, what is allowed to occur, and whether our council members have betrayed our trust