When a public library in Nevada attempted this week to offer support for the Black Lives Matter movement, the county’s sheriff denounced the plan – and warned library officials not to bother calling 911 for help.
The Douglas County Public Library “denounces all acts of violence, racism, and disregard for human rights. We support #Black Lives Matter,” the library wrote in the statement, per the Washington Post.
Sheriff Dan Coverley reacted Monday with his own open letter on the sheriff’s office website.
“Due to your support of Black Lives Matter and the obvious lack of support or trust with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, please do not feel the need to call 911 for help,” Coverley wrote. “I wish you good luck with disturbances and lewd behavior, since those are just some of the recent calls my office has assisted you with.”
“The Douglas County Sheriffs Office is the only local law enforcement agency in Douglas County and it is the men and women of DCSO that keep you safe. The Black Lives Matter movement openly calls all law enforcement corrupt and racist on their website,” he writes.
Coverley expanded on his reasoning, noting the “violence” and “property damage” that have taken place at BLM protests nationwide.
In fact, mainstream media has gladly shown the incidents of violence and clashes between Black Lives Matter protestors and the local police departments.
In response, library Director Amy Dodson said that the proposed statement was not meant to be anti-police.
“It simply was meant to state our inclusivity at the library, that we are open and welcoming to everyone and we treat everyone equally,” Dodson said. “I want the sheriff’s office to know we do love and support our law enforcement here. We would never want to support a movement to defund the police, so to speak. I think a lot of this has been a big misunderstanding.”
Anyway, Coverley ended up getting what he wanted, I suppose, as the statement was ultimately tossed out.
The proposed statement was meant to be considered at a Board of Library Trustees meeting on Tuesday, but that got canceled “due to overwhelming amount of community response.”
The library had posted its statement to its Facebook page, but county officials made them take it down, saying that it violated a policy against using government websites to promote a political agenda.
Sources: AWM, Washington Post
