Grants Pass Friends of the Library to hold “no shushing” rally during Josephine County Commissioner’s meeting

Grants Pass, August 18, 2025—The Grants Pass Friends of the Library will hold a “No Shushing” rally outside the Anne Basker Auditorium at 600 NW 6th St. in Grants Pass on August 21, 2025, beginning at 10:00 a.m. The rally will be held outside while the Josephine County Commissioners meet inside.
The rally is a response to Commissioner Blech’s controversial adjournment of the commissioners’ meeting on August 14, 2025, in which he cited audience “disrespect” in applauding a long-awaited vote on a lease for the Josephine Community Library District.
Out of concern that Commissioner Blech will take any murmur of either critique or appreciation as a chance to once again shut down the meeting, the Grants Pass Friends of the Library encourages supporters to attend the “No Shushing” rally held outside instead.
“Unfortunately, it appears Commissioner Blech will take any excuse to shut down a meeting to avoid a vote on this lease, and we refuse to give him one,” said Jennifer Roberts, co-chair of the Grants Pass Friends of the Library. “We would rather be loud outside the meeting than shushed inside the meeting.”
“We’ve had our say,” noted Teresa Stover, co-chair of the Grants Pass Friends of the Library. “For two hours, supporter after supporter went to the podium to urge approval of this lease. Now it’s time for action.”
The library’s lease was terminated by the Josephine County Board of Commissioners with 30 days’ notice on January 6, 2025. Despite two months of negotiations with the commissioners’ liaison and eight months of waiting, no vote has been held.