"...But the prosecutor’s office has announced that it (in co-operation with Hawkins’s employer, the Jewish Community Foundation) will go forward with the cases against the both the librarian and the patron."
The Community Foundation says otherwise:
"May 9 Event
"The Jewish Community Foundation and the Truman Library Institute co-sponsored a program featuring Ambassador Dennis Ross on May 9, 2016 for which the Kansas City Public Library served as the venue. In the spirit of encouraging dialogue, the event included a live question-and-answer opportunity. During this period, a series of actions by a questioner and a library employee began that resulted in their arrests by local law enforcement. We take this situation very seriously.
"Although we were not consulted on the charges and are not a party to the court proceedings, for many weeks The Jewish Community Foundation has been engaged in the matter to encourage a resolution that would be acceptable to all parties. We continue to cooperate in this matter.
"Know that we respect and will always support First Amendment rights. While it is inappropriate for the Jewish Community Foundation to comment further because of pending legal proceedings, we will share additional information as opportunities arise."
That statement doesn't actually say anything and is just insulting lawyer-speak. Trying to read between the lines "engaged in the matter to encourage a resolution that would be acceptable to all parties" to me sounds like they have been pressing charges.
Just for the record, I believe that the Jewish Community Foundation of Kansas City is completely responsible for the behavior of its employees. Including the off-duty police it hired.
Comments
"...But the prosecutor’s office has announced that it (in co-operation with Hawkins’s employer, the Jewish Community Foundation) will go forward with the cases against the both the librarian and the patron."
The Community Foundation says otherwise:
"May 9 Event
"The Jewish Community Foundation and the Truman Library Institute co-sponsored a program featuring Ambassador Dennis Ross on May 9, 2016 for which the Kansas City Public Library served as the venue. In the spirit of encouraging dialogue, the event included a live question-and-answer opportunity. During this period, a series of actions by a questioner and a library employee began that resulted in their arrests by local law enforcement. We take this situation very seriously.
"Although we were not consulted on the charges and are not a party to the court proceedings, for many weeks The Jewish Community Foundation has been engaged in the matter to encourage a resolution that would be acceptable to all parties. We continue to cooperate in this matter.
"Know that we respect and will always support First Amendment rights. While it is inappropriate for the Jewish Community Foundation to comment further because of pending legal proceedings, we will share additional information as opportunities arise."
https://www.jcfkc.org/content/statement
The Truman Library Institute doesn't seem to have anything, although their photos of the event do not show any of the events.
http://trumanlibraryinstitute.org/interview-dennis-ross/
That statement doesn't actually say anything and is just insulting lawyer-speak. Trying to read between the lines "engaged in the matter to encourage a resolution that would be acceptable to all parties" to me sounds like they have been pressing charges.
Just for the record, I believe that the Jewish Community Foundation of Kansas City is completely responsible for the behavior of its employees. Including the off-duty police it hired.