A high school librarian in New Jersey is suing two mothers for raising objections concerning obscene books in their children’s library. The mothers declared they would not be intimidated and urged other parents to speak out with them.
The parents involved in the defamation lawsuit are Kristen Cobo and Christina Balestriere, who are from Roxbury, New Jersey.
Roxbury High School librarian Roxana Russo Caivano sued the mothers after they spoke out at a Board of Education meeting regarding inappropriate books in the school library. Caivano claimed that Cobo and Balestriere defamed her by questioning her “content” choices and calling her a “child predator.”
The mothers said they first spoke about the issue after learning that several library books, which they say amounted to “hardcore” lewd adult films, were available to students as young as 13 years old.
The book “Gender Queer: A Memoir,” is the subject of the mothers’ complaint. Parents across the U.S. have criticized the book for including LGBTQ content and inappropriate material.
Moms for Liberty, a parental rights advocacy group, disapproved including books such as “Gender Queer: A Memoir” in U.S. public school system libraries.
.@SecCardona, are you aware that these books have been found in public schools across America?
Media, please take note. @SecCardona has now been made aware. What action will he take? @ChrisCuomo @CBSSunday @wrong_speak @libsoftiktok @JasonBedrick @SexHarassed @4TiffanyJustice… https://t.co/bCREpg8EgT pic.twitter.com/3nrytZDOkZ
— Moms for Liberty (@Moms4Liberty) April 29, 2023
“We went straight to the administrators, to the school board. We spoke out month after month. The first time we brought [it] to their attention was in August of 2022. I can tell you today all those books still remain in the library,” Cobo declared on Fox News’ “Jesse Watters Primetime.”
Cobo and Balestriere eventually contacted the Roxbury Board of Education after being ignored for months, to remove the books from the library. They were asked to express their concerns at the board’s meeting on March 6, 2023.
The mothers said they would not give up and expressed optimism that people in a similar situation would be courageous enough to speak out against radical ideologies that have infiltrated American classrooms and libraries.
“We have one chance to get this right with our children and we are their last line of defense against this agenda… And I say speak out. Who cares what they call you. You know your truth. You are on the right side of history. And, again, we are the last ones. We have parents, grandparents, teachers reaching out to us saying thank you,” the mothers said.
“We have watched this go on in Roxbury for years. And we’re disgusted, and thank you for speaking out. So speak your truth and don’t be – don’t let anybody silence you. This is about the kids,” Cobo maintained,” they added.
Attorney Corinne Mullen, who specializes in First Amendment law, will represent the mothers.
