Parents, ACLU Sue over St. Tammany
Video Restrictions
Two parents and the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana filed a lawsuit April 21 to block enforcement of an ordinance banning St. Tammany Parish Library users under 17 from checking out R- and NC-17-rated videos without parental consent. The suit claims that when the parish Police Jury overruled the library board’s January 19 decision not to restrict the videos, it illegally usurped the board’s authority.
“The library should be free to all citizens,” said Gay Ward Chavez at an April 21 press conference. “There are many things in the library not suitable to young children. If we start here, I don’t think it will stop,” added Chavez, who filed the suit on behalf of her 11-year-old son Jacob; her coplaintiff Andre Jurisich sued on behalf of his children Jan, 11, and Dru, 14.
The April 22 New Orleans Times-Picayune said Judge Donald Fendlason will consider a request for a court order invalidating the ordinance on June 16.
Posted April 26, 1999.
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