Kirk Cameron book event interrupted by activists, drag queens: editor

A group of drag queens and activists dressed in black and white showed up at the Fayetteville Public Library in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Friday to protest actor-writer Kirk Cameron’s storytime event for families and children, according to book publisher Brave Books, whose staff were present at the reading.

The drag queens blocked the view of some families and children and distracted others from reading the book and making remarks from the scene, Brave Books said.

The editor shared photos taken by staff on site.

Cameron, based in Los Angeles, an outspoken Christian who has traveled across the country to public libraries sharing messages of faith, family and country while reading children’s books and singing patriotic songs, told Fox News Digital in exclusive comments Saturday morning that it found the disruptions disturbing.

“The small group of protesters, which included grown men wearing silly makeup, dressed in skirts and heels, posing as women, listened to a reading from a children’s book about God’s view on gender called ‘Elephants are not birds,’” he told Fox News Digital in an email sent Saturday.

“At the end of this sweet and funny story of a singing elephant named Kevin who was tricked by a vulture named ‘Culture’ into thinking he might be a bird, the reader then asked the 300 children, ‘ Do you think elephants can be birds, even if they attach silly wings and a beak?'”

Cameron added, “In unison and with lots of laughter, all 300 children enthusiastically confessed, No!”

Cameron also said, “I felt sad for men in skirts. As it is written: “You have taught the little children to praise you perfectly. Let their example confuse and silence your enemies” (Psalm 8:2).

Brave Books, which helped organize the event, told Fox News Digital that some 500 “enthusiastic” parents, grandparents and children were in attendance overall for the event.

Brave Books said there were “protesters present” inside and outside the library.

Fox News Digital has contacted the Fayetteville Public Library for comment.

It was the sixth stop for Cameron and Brave Books in what they call their “Freedom Island Tour”, so named for the series of illustrated children’s books published by Brave Books, a conservative publisher.

Cameron’s own book, “As You Grow,” is about an acorn growing and flowering into a huge tree.

The publisher said its staff had “run into opposition from protesters who joined story time inside the library”.

He said that “some men dressed as women wore colorful outfits. Some had signs claiming that we were spreading a hate message.

The so-called “hate message” protesters challenged was apparently a reference to content in Cameron’s children’s book, “As You Grow,” which teaches children about the fruits of the spirit, including love, joy, peace, patience, benevolence and self-control.

The publisher told Fox News Digital in a statement, “It was such a joy to see families and their children having such a great time with Kirk Cameron and his story time.”

He continued: “Unfortunately the small children present were forced to see men dressed as women, men wearing bright rainbow colors and individuals with black and white paint covering their bodies. “

The editor also said: ‘Many of these people were holding signs which blocked the view of children and parents. It was a shame they decided to come out and disturb such a beautiful scene at the Fayetteville Public Library.

Zac Bell, chief of staff at Brave Books, who was in attendance at the event, told Fox News Digital, “Coming to Fayetteville, Arkansas, we expected a ton of Christian and conservative families to show up. What we didn’t expect was a group of drag queens and activists to attend and walk back and forth at the event – giving goosebumps to the kids in attendance.

He continued, “Their dress was some kind of weird black dress and they had demonic-looking face paint on.”

Trent Talbot, Texas-based CEO and founder of Brave Books, told Fox News Digital on Saturday: “We’ve said the left is going after our kids, and they’re coyly trying to enlighten us – calling us conspiracy theorists. .

He added: “On Friday in Fayetteville, a group of drag queens dressed in demonic outfits showed up to a children’s book reading filled with conservative and Christian parents and their children.”

He also said, “All these drag queens wanted was to impose disturbing opinions on these innocent children. The predatory behavior of the left is just another conspiracy theory exposed as fact.

Cameron, with Brave Books, also recently appeared in Hendersonville, Tennessee, for a children’s story hour event.

Following a “nasty rejection” of Cameron and his team related to the program they were organizing, a library worker was fired.

Before that Cameron appeared in other cities and towns including Indianapolis, Indiana and Scarsdale, New York.

Previously, up to 50 libraries had refused or ignored Cameron’s requests to set aside space in their facilities, with some saying the message didn’t “align” with their programming. Since then, Cameron and his editor said, many other libraries have welcomed them and invited them to speak.

Cameron plans to continue visiting and traveling to public libraries across the country. Upcoming stops include Denver, Colorado; Washington D.C.; and New York.