Walla Walla city manager addresses hateful sidewalk chalking
By Dan Thesman on Friday, August 9th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – Members of the Walla Walla City Council, along with city staff, have received a number of emails and phone calls asking the city to take action to prevent the chalking of hateful messages on city sidewalks. City Manager Elizabeth Chamber has recorded a video, in which she addresses the issue.
While the city does not endorse or support this type of speech, the local government is bound by case law and the First Amendment, meaning the city is not able to stop the chalking.
In her recorded video, which can be seen at https://vimeo.com/995914764, Chamberlain talks about how those court decisions limit what the city can do, and expresses appreciation to the community members who clean off the sidewalks or create positive messages on Walla Walla’s sidewalks.
For anyone who would like to help spread some positivity, the city wants the community to know that sticks of chalk are available at the front desk of the Walla Walla Public Library, made possible by a donation from a community member. The library is open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.
