tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post1626988966901088099..comments2023-10-25T05:50:54.547-04:00Comments on Fort Wayne Left: Muncie City Council Bans Two Candidates From Future MeetingsJohn Goodhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05362896971987049810noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post-24098166265003384652007-09-16T11:14:00.000-04:002007-09-16T11:14:00.000-04:00I would imagine that if you are disrupting the mee...I would imagine that if you are disrupting the meeting and/or attempt to physically attack a member of the council or audience then you can and should be removed. Does that mean you should be <I>permanently</I> banned? I suppose I would want to know the circumstances first but in general I would not support a permanent ban.<BR/><BR/>Once you start down that road it is difficult to determine where it might lead. But in this <I>specific</I> case I don't see any reason whatsoever why these two gentlemen should be banned from future meetings...Jeff Pruitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01996970649630375507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post-47663983010673867112007-09-16T05:06:00.000-04:002007-09-16T05:06:00.000-04:00Jeff,Unless "black bat" is a common nickname used ...Jeff,<BR/><BR/>Unless "black bat" is a common nickname used by that councilman, then I think that would definetly classify as a racial slur. The comment about tar and feathers, I expect, was only meant as a euphamism, but the line between this and an actual threat can sometimes be cloudy.<BR/><BR/>You are correct in surmising that I was focusing on their right to speak at, rather than to attend the meetings. This was my fault for not reading your post carefully.<BR/><BR/>I have a question though. Is there anything that could be seen as legal grounds for barring someone from attending the meetings. Suppose a man calls a councilwoman (or a councilmans wife) a dirty f-----g b---h. Suppose someone stands up and shouts out from the audience when they are not the recognized speaker. Suppose a man lunges towards one of the councilmen and physically strikes him? Some of these cases may result in fines or even imprisonment, but after the money and time is paid, could they still be banned from future meetings? I'm not trying to be argumentative here, just inquisitive.Phil Marxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04372454786699413982noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post-59057854790029282952007-09-15T23:13:00.000-04:002007-09-15T23:13:00.000-04:00Phil,First I would disagree with the characterizat...Phil,<BR/><BR/>First I would disagree with the characterization that these two comments were a racial slur and a threat. I think it's just a useful characterization for those people that disagree with the speakers.<BR/><BR/>Having said that, it's one thing to ban someone from speaking as you seem to suggest and a whole other thing to ban them from the meeting altogether. You cannot ban people from public meetings because they said something offensive at the last meeting. Not only is it against the law it's downright un-American.<BR/><BR/>There is no statutory requirement that says a city council must allow citizens to speak at council meetings - it's a courtesy.Jeff Pruitthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01996970649630375507noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30564659.post-84133046487730432322007-09-15T22:07:00.000-04:002007-09-15T22:07:00.000-04:00Jeff, I actually disagree with you on this. I thi...Jeff, I actually disagree with you on this. I think there should be a certain level of decorum required when you're speaking publicly. That is not to say that you shouldn't be allowed to criticize, or even to question the motives of the council, it's just a question of how you say it.<BR/><BR/>I don't believe that these two comments, one a racially charged slur and the other a threat of physical violence should have been tolerated. That's not to say that they can't say it, just not during council sessions.<BR/><BR/>Here's a related question to consider though. Is Fort Wayne City Council required to allow public comments? I heard Schmidt say at one meeting "It is our tradition to allow the public to speak at these meetings..." He did not refer to it as a legal obligation though. I was curious, so I looked through the city code and found nothing covering this.<BR/><BR/>Perhaps it's a state law, but I would have no idea where to search for that. The point I'm getting at is, if the Council is not required to do this, and someone speaks out like these two guys did, couldn't Council just say "meeting adjourned" and leave the room. With no council before them, and probably no cameras either, these guys would be reduced to the idiot standing on the sidewalk screaming and shouting.Phil Marxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04372454786699413982noreply@blogger.com