Tacoma and Pierce County DSA demand the cancellation of all further “Checking in with the Sheriff” events with sheriff Keith Swank at Pierce County Library locations.

Keith Swank has stated “Here’s the policy: I am the Sheriff, and I can say whatever I want,” Some of the things he has said include that he wants to work collaboratively with ICE in spite of it being against state law and has made bigoted comments about trans people and questioned whether they should be stripped of constitutional rights.  

Sheriff Swank has consistently lauded ICE kidnappings and most recently, in the wake of the murder of Renee Good by an ICE agent he stated “PSA: if law enforcement tells you to stop. STOP. You can always sue later if your rights were violated. Even if you are right, do you want to be dead right?” downplaying the responsibility of ICE and law enforcement in enacting and escalating violence against citizens and assigning the blame for murder onto the victim.  

Pierce County Library System has stated goals “Create welcoming and inclusive spaces and services: Create safer spaces and services.” and “We value every person.”

The Pierce County Library cannot simultaneously make welcoming, safe and inclusive spaces while arranging events for a person in power who has stated that he is against inclusion, does not support the safety of or value everyone and is actively in favor of seeing harm come to members of the community.

The library system has given the reason for not hosting programs other libraries routinely host, like drag queen story times on a concern for the safety of staff and the public. Keith Swank’s presence at the library is a direct threat to the safety of both the public and staff, he has said as much in his frequent social media posts. Pierce County Library System is attempting to remain neutral in an era of widespread oppression, acting as if by not acknowledging its existence it will cease to exist or that you can hide from those who would harm you and those around you simply by looking away. You need only look to the books in your libraries to see this is folly. Audre Lorde reminds us that “Your silence will not protect you,” and Howard Zinn that “You can’t be neutral on a moving train.”  

We call on the administration of the Pierce County Library System to remember their goals and live their values. If you want to provide a library that is there for “everyone” you can’t welcome and center someone who is actively causing harm to communities that should be able to freely and safely access our library system. If the library hosted sheriff events continue, we will be there to protest every one of them, we will stand united in support of members of the community to whom the sheriff would deny their rights and safety.