Announcing the decision to appeal, Jones said she is "committed to going the distance and fighting for my right to a fair trial against those who have sought to destroy my good name."
Louisiana school librarian Amanda Jones, who lost her court case against online harassers, has officially filed an appeal of that decision.
Jones, the 2021 School Librarian of the Year, announced the appeal and update on her website:
Hello, everyone! I am excited to announce that we have moved forward on an appeal to continue my case. I am concerned about the precedent the ruling from the 21st Judicial District Court of Livingston set for these online bullies to freely and openly attack and defame hard-working educators and librarians who speak out for intellectual freedom. We are appealing the decision from the 21st Judicial District Court of Livingston to the Louisiana First Circuit Court of Appeal. The process will take many months, but hopefully a decision will be made by the fall. I am committed to going the distance and fighting for my right to a fair trial against those who have sought to destroy my good name. I am also committed to continually speaking out against censorship and book banning efforts and I refuse to cower to these individuals. They wanted to silence me so I am doing the opposite. I am currently on medical leave/sabbatical from my job as a school librarian due to stress. I have been in and out of the hospital with physical medical issues the past few weeks from an unexpected emergency surgery, and then complications due to that surgery. However, I am on the mend and things are looking well. I am also working on my mental health and healing through prayer, yoga, meditation, and therapy. The good news is that I signed with Sarah Fisk of the Tobias Literary Agency and we will have an announcement in the next few months! I am in the process of writing a book that will not only cover my court case, but take a look at the history of libraries and analyze censorship issues that are happening in my community, my state, and across the country. I look forward to sharing it with the world. I continue to be humbled by the outpouring of support from people across the globe and I wholeheartedly thank you for helping me along this nightmarish journey. Censorship is not okay. Attempts to marginalize the LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC communities is not okay. Online harassment and lies targeting librarians and educators is not okay. I will continue to stand up for myself and stand up for others as it is the right thing to do. Your support gives me the strength and the means to carry on. I will update court procedures as they happen in the upcoming year, and give periodic updates on how I am helping in the fight against anti-library/pro-censorship legislation in our state. To everyone fighting in their own states, I hope you keep up the good fight! You are not alone and there are thousands of us waking up each day to fight for the rights of our students and our communities. |
Read all of SLJ's coverage of Jones and her fight against censorship and online attacks:
School Librarian of the Year Amanda Jones Fights Back Against Online Attacks
Update: Judge Rules Against School Librarian Amanda Jones in Civil Case
School Librarian Amanda Jones Files Motion for New Trial Against Online Attackers
LA School Librarian Successfully Defends The Undefeated Against Censors
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