Librarian Fired for Wearing Cross Wins Lawsuit

-- Library Journal, 9/8/2003

Kimberly Draper, a librarian at the Logan County Public Library, Russellville, KY, who was fired for wearing a cross, has won her lawsuit against the facility. Federal Judge Thomas Russell ruled that wearing a religious icon to work "was neither disruptive nor controversial until the library dress code made it a source of contention." Draper was told several times by Assistant Director Sherryl Appling that wearing the cross violated the library's policy barring personal displays of religious or political images. Library Director Linda Kompanik deemed that Draper's refusal to obey the policy was an act of insubordination and fired her. Russell denounced the policy saying "it is simply beyond credibility that an employee's personal display of a cross pendant, a Star of David, or some other minor, unobtrusive religious symbol on her person would interfere with the library's purpose." Draper, who didn't ask for her job back, seeks unspecified monetary damages, which the judge will determine at a future date.