ACLU Sues Library Over Internet Filter That Excludes Minority Religious Beliefs

The ACLU announced yesterday that it has filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of a library patron against the Salem, Missouri Public Library for unconstitutionally blocking Internet access to websites that discuss minority religious beliefs. The complaint (full text) in Hunter v. City of Salem Missouri, (ED MO, filed 1/3/2012), alleges that the library subscribes to an Internet filtering service that allows the library to choose categories of websites to which it wishes to deny access on its publicly available computers.  The library included the "occult" category in its filter profile, even though that category includes "numerous websites discussing minority religions, religious practices, and beliefs from a positive or neutral viewpoint." The library also blocks the "criminal skills" category, even though that includes websites "related to Native American cultural and religious history and the Wiccan Church."  Plaintiff alleges that this practice violates her 1st Amendment right of access to speech and violates the Establishment Clause by favoring some religious viewpoints over others. AP reports on the lawsuit.