Is Book Burning Back? Ohio Man Destroys Jewish and LGBTQ Titles from Library

A man who borrowed 100 books from a suburban Ohio library may have used them in a hate-motivated book burning that he recorded and posted online. The books, focused on Jewish history, African-American history, and LGBTQ education, were checked out from the Beachwood branch of the Cuyahoga County Public Library on two separate visits in early April.

Beachwood, a suburb of Cleveland with a population that is nearly 90% Jewish, issued the man a library card on April 2. He borrowed 50 books that day and another 50 a week later. While his actions followed standard borrowing procedures and no threats were made, library staff described his behavior as “odd and concerning.”

Shortly after his first visit, the man posted a photo of the books in his car trunk on social media, claiming he was “cleansing” the library of what he considered objectionable content. Days later, he uploaded a video to Gab, a social platform known for hosting white nationalists and extremists, showing the books being burned. At least one book bore the library’s sticker, and several visible titles matched those that had been checked out.

The books were valued at around $1,700. While they are not yet overdue, the library says it will bill the man if they are not returned. The incident has drawn concern from Jewish and civil rights organizations, who warn of escalating acts of hate targeting marginalized communities.