HUNDREDS of angry residents are battling a city over plans for a $7,000 library plaque that they insist is divisive.
The drama is unfolding in Huntington Beach ahead of a celebration of the local library’s 50th anniversary.
A plaque commemorating a local library’s 50th anniversary has caused a stir in a California townCredit: City of Huntington Beach
The city commission voted unanimously to proceed with installing the plaque at the Huntington Beach Central Library despite major pushbackCredit: Getty
The city commission voted unanimously to proceed with installing the plaque at the Huntington Beach Central Library.
The sign includes the letters MAGA, matching Trump’s Make America Great Again slogan.
However, city leaders say the MAGA message on the plaque stands for “Magical, Alluring, Galvanizing, and Adventurous.”
The plans have sparked outrage in the California town, as reported by local CW affiliate KTLA.
The anger started online and then erupted at city meetings.
Opponents flooded Tuesday’s meeting of the Huntington Beach Community and Library Services Commission, where they called for the plaque to be axed.
More than 300 emails were submitted against it and the large crowd at the meeting showed strong opposition to the city’s decision.
“Most of the overflow crowd is, too,” a reporter from Daily Pilot stated on his social media, showing the deep discontent that has fueled the backlash.
Former council member Natalie Moser, who is against the MAGA plaque, said it is a “political propaganda described as a celebration.”
“Libraries are spaces for knowledge, community, and inclusion,” she fumed.
“They are not tools for political messaging, yet this plaque inserts division, exclusion, and control into a space meant to foster learning and unity.”
She continued, “The use of a MAGA acrostic injects partisan ideology into a public institution that belongs to everyone, not just a political movement.”
Reddit users discussed the controversy on a subreddit called “Orange County,” where most of them were against the MAGA plaque.
“I’ll happily pay the fine for tearing it down. Anything to save my hometown from these morons,” a Reddit user said.
Another person fumed, “The plaque seems politically motivated, aimed at swaying ideology and boosting brand image of the presidency.”
A fourth outraged user said, “And they approved it unanimously despite the public showing up to dispute the plaque!
“How very MAGA. HB has become a place to be avoided.”
“Libraries are spaces for knowledge, community and inclusion, they are not tools for political messaging yet this plaque inserts division, exclusion and control into a space meant to foster learning and unity.
Natalie Moser, Former Council Member
Critics also slammed the $7,000 price tag for the plaque, arguing the money could have been better used to support the library’s core services.
Tuesday’s vote adds to the ongoing tensions between Huntington Beach City Council and its library system, KTLA reported.
Last year, the council proposed outsourcing library operations to a third party, a move that also sparked controversy.
And in 2023, the city ordered librarians to review 𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘭𝘥ren’s books for “𝓈ℯ𝓍ually explicit” content, leading to backlash.
Many of the flagged books focused on health, the human body, and puberty, LAist reported.
Huntington Beach mayor Pat Burns didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment by The U.S. Sun.
It’s being installed despite a wave of public opposition to the plaque, with more than 300 emails submitted against itCredit: Getty
Former council member Natalie Moser, who is against the MAGA plaque, said it is ‘political propaganda described as a celebration’Credit: Getty
Last year, the council proposed outsourcing library operations to a third party, a move that also sparked controversyCredit: Getty