A lecture at the Library of Congress by former Army reservist Lynndie England, the woman who became the public face of the abuses at the notorious Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq, was cancelled Friday because of threats of violence.

England had been scheduled to discuss her biography at a veterans forum on Capitol Hill.

Written by Gary S Winkler Tortured: Lynndie England, Abu Ghraib and the Photographs That Shocked the World is the only authorized biography of one of the key players in the events that transpired at the prison between October and December of 2003 leading to the culture of abuse of Muslim prisoners.

The book claims to reveal England’s thoughts and feelings about her role in the abuse, and her twisted relationship with Corporal Charles Graner, the questionable conduct of the war and the Bush-era torture policies.

David Moore, a Vietnam War veteran and German acquisitions specialist at the library who organized the event on behalf of the Members of the Library of Congress Professional Association said the threats show “free speech in America is pretty well dead”.

Members due to attend the lecture received an email Friday from association president Angela Kinney saying the event was canceled due to staff safety concerns.

Moore said he received several e-mails threatening violence and shared them with police and the library’s inspector general.

He blamed an essay decrying the event on the Small Wars Journal blog for stirring up much of the opposition. The site focuses on war politics and strategy.

England, 26, is appealing her convictions for conspiracy, mistreating detainees, and committing an indecent act after serving half of a three-year sentence. England was one of 11 soldiers found guilty of wrongdoing at Abu Ghraib.