Tax Dollars Fund RADICAL Protest Art

A stack of neatly arranged books on a wooden table in a bookstore

Philadelphia’s taxpayer-funded libraries are now hosting “Palestine Storytime” events where children are taught to make protest art promoting “Palestinian liberation”—all under the watchful eye of public employees and with the blessing of your government dollars.

At a Glance

Philadelphia public libraries are hosting “Palestine Storytime” events promoting pro-Palestinian narratives and protest art for children.
Events are sponsored by activist group Families for Ceasefire Philly and held at multiple library branches across the city.
Critics allege political indoctrination and the use of controversial slogans and imagery tied to militant groups.
Jewish community leaders and advocacy groups have condemned the programming, calling for public accountability and policy review.
The events continue to expand, sparking heated debate over the use of public spaces and taxpayer funding for political activism.

Philadelphia Libraries Turn Storytime Into Political Battlefield

Once upon a time, you could trust your local library to be a quiet refuge for learning, literacy, and—heaven forbid—neutrality. Today, the Free Library of Philadelphia has thrown that tradition out the window, partnering with activist groups to transform “story hour” into a crash course in radical politics for children. “Palestine Storytime & Crafts” events, sponsored by Families for Ceasefire Philly, have cropped up throughout the city’s library branches since the escalation of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023. Organizers say these sessions are about “education” and “solidarity.” The reality? Children are instructed in the art of protest through readings, crafts, and discussions that critics say are saturated with anti-Israel sentiment and political messaging—even echoing slogans and icons associated with groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.

This is not just a one-off stunt or fringe gathering. At least a dozen such events have been staged since last year, with even more scheduled for summer 2025. The Kingsessing Library will soon host a session featuring “art projects symbolizing Palestinian resistance”—a phrase that would make Orwell himself blush. Families for Ceasefire Philly, the self-styled grassroots organizers, are anything but shy about their motives; their social media actively encourages children’s participation in “protest art” and lively discussions of loaded terms like “apartheid” and “right of return.”

Critics Sound Alarm on Indoctrination, Demand Action

You don’t need a PhD in history to see where this road leads. The Zionist Organization of America’s Philadelphia chapter, along with a growing chorus of Jewish community leaders, have condemned the programming as blatant indoctrination, warning that it “demonizes Israel and Zionism” and risks inciting hatred against Jews. Their concerns are not without precedent; similar programming has been tracked across the city’s libraries for years, but the recent spike in both frequency and intensity has turned up the heat. The primary complaint? Public institutions—funded by citizens who expect at least a pretense of neutrality—are being hijacked as platforms for partisan activism, with children caught in the crossfire.

As one local leader put it, “These events twist around the facts of history about the Middle East, and demonize the Jewish people by demonizing Israel and Zionism.” The library, meanwhile, has yet to issue any statement defending or reconsidering its policy—perhaps betting that the controversy will fade away as the headlines shift. Yet, the events remain on the official calendar, actively promoted on both the library website and activist social media accounts. Talk about doubling down on a bad bet.

Taxpayers Foot the Bill for Partisan Programming

Let’s talk about the money—your money, to be precise. The Free Library of Philadelphia, like most public libraries, runs on state and federal funding. Every “Palestine Storytime” held in its branches uses public resources, staff time, and facilities—all for events that are, by any honest measure, deeply political. This isn’t just a Philadelphia problem. The city’s experiment with protest programming could set a precedent for libraries nationwide, inviting activists of every stripe to turn taxpayer-funded spaces into battlegrounds for their causes, no matter how controversial or divisive.

The implications go far beyond culture war theatrics. If these events are deemed to violate standards of neutrality or cross into incitement, the library system could find its funding—and its very mission—under threat. Community trust in public institutions is already hanging by a thread; using libraries as Trojan horses for political messaging will only worsen the divide. Meanwhile, both sides of the debate are mobilizing, promising that this storm is far from over.