ACLU questions WW council’s public comment policy
By Dan Thesman on Wednesday, December 20th, 2023 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Washington has sent a letter to the Walla Walla City Council and City Attorney Tim Donaldson asking them to review the city’s new public comment policy.
In the letter written Dec. 4 and sent to the city electronically, the ACLU said it fears the city’s current policy is “impermissibly overbroad and risks viewpoint discrimination.” The ACLU also stated it believes the Walla Walla City Council has the “ability to stop racist bigotry from upending its governmental operations during public comment – without unduly burdening constitutionally protected speech.”
The city’s policy was implemented earlier this year in reaction to a College Place City Council meeting that was interrupted by racial slurs, profanity, and antisemitic language during a public hearing. Donaldson said that last week the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals heard oral arguments in an appeal of a similar case. His office will review the city’s public comment policy when the Ninth Circuit issues a decision on that case.
