The decision to not display a Christmas tree at a public library has ignited controversy, including threats and bullying, in Dedham, a town of 25,000 located 30 minutes southwest of Boston.
The controversy first arose on Dec. 2 when Lisa Desmond, the Dedham Public Library’s Endicott branch supervisor, went to social media about the decision that the library director, Amber Maroney, made to keep their Christmas tree boxed in storage this holiday season.
“I was told because ‘people’ were made uncomfortable about it last year looking at it,” she wrote on Facebook. “I’m sorry WHAT? In my 28 years at the Dedham Public Library, I have never heard a negative comment. We have celebrated and included everyone in our community.”
The response to her post was immediate and overwhelmingly supportive of Desmond. Many applauded her courage for speaking up. Others expressed their confusion about the decision in the first place.
“The Question many have are these same people who were uncomfortable last year looking at it, do not go into Public stores … where Christmas trees are put up in August ……???” Facebook user Mario Taddeo replied to her post.
Another, John Cleveland, wrote, “It’s not like the ones that are complaining are being forced into the library.” And user Maggiem Ross wrote, “Who is offended by a Christmas tree or a Menorah? Shame on the library for festering this kind of intolerance.” Sean D. Kelleher wondered, “Why are we letting the Minority dictate the Majority?”
Dorothy Hill asked, “WHO complained? It seems that this ‘mystery’ complainer may have been made up.” Then she advised Desmond to put the tree up anyway.
Others suggested they send trees to the library to protest their objection. One user, Patricia Nedder, suggested, “Everyone should go to the library with a small tree, call it your therapy tree … say you are uncomfortable without a Christmas tree.”
A few dissented from Desmond’s post, like Facebook user Skye Lavin. “I hope you get fired—way to bring the ‘Christmas Spirit’ to your community with this divisive post,” she wrote.
Desmond told her Facebook followers that a coworker at her library had said that “I’m ruining the library.” And on Dec. 6, she made another post, this one about a letter that was left on her desk, full of threats and expletives, from Diane Loud, a member of the town’s Human Rights Commission. In it, Loud alleged that Desmond “put people’s lives in a lot of danger. A LOT of danger. For a [expletive] Christmas tree.”
“I am calling for her resignation,” Desmond told her followers Tuesday. “And, yes, the police have been notified.”
Later that day, the Dedham Human Rights Commission put out a statement that Loud had stepped down, saying, “We sincerely appreciate Diane’s service” without any mention of Christmas trees or threatening letters.
Also on Dec. 6, Kim Tunnicliffe of Boston’s news radio WBZ reported that “armchair warriors” are going after Desmond on social media, “calling it ‘Christian privilege’ because she is asking that Christmas be brought back to her beautiful library.”
“I was actually put into a category with murderers—that was probably one of the lowest points I’ve ever had,” Desmond told WBZ.
According to Tunnicliffe, Desmond just wishes that the library director would have “had a conversation with her about the issue so they could possibly come up with a compromise.”
“The decision was made, instead of maybe putting heads together,” Desmond told Tunnicliffe. “You know, we can call it a ‘seasonal tree.’ We can call it anything you want.”
This all got the attention of Fox News commentator Jesse Watters of “Jesse Watters Primetime,” who brought the Dedham debacle national attention when he discussed it on his broadcast Thursday night. “There’s a Scrooge living in Massachusetts, where the first shots have been fired in the war on Christmas,” he said.
The library has not responded to media outlet requests for comment, but the Board of Library Trustees will be holding a public meeting on Dec. 13 to discuss the Christmas tree issue with the community, Boston.com reported.
