{"id":2342868,"date":"2024-09-18T13:12:02","date_gmt":"2024-09-18T17:12:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/az-city-repeals-speech-ban-that-got-mom-dragged-from-meeting\/"},"modified":"2024-09-18T13:14:37","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T17:14:37","slug":"az-city-repeals-speech-ban-that-got-mom-dragged-from-meeting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/az-city-repeals-speech-ban-that-got-mom-dragged-from-meeting\/","title":{"rendered":"AZ City Repeals Speech Ban That Got Mom Dragged From Meeting"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Faz-city-repeals-speech-ban-that-got-mom-dragged-from-meeting%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2342868&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>An Arizona city\u200d council has revoked\u200d a controversial rule that prohibited residents \u2062from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/scott-powell-grand-forks-north-dakota-profound-lessons-for-americas-national-security\/\" title=\"Scott Powell: Grand Forks, North Dakota: Profound Lessons for America\u2019s National Security\">criticizing city officials<\/a> during public meetings. This decision came after a local mother, Rebekah Massie,\u200d was forcibly \u200dremoved and arrested at a council meeting \u2062for speaking out\u200c against the city attorney. \u2062During the August \u206220th meeting, she \u200cwas accused by Mayor\u200c Skip Hall of violating rules governing public speaking, which led to her detention. Massie argues that her removal\u2064 infringed her\u200b First Amendment rights. Following the\u2063 incident, she filed a lawsuit against \u200dthe mayor, the city, and \u200dthe <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/brooklyn-center-city-manager-fired-after-calling-for-due-process-in-duane-wright-shooting\/\" title=\"Brooklyn Center City Manager Fired After Calling For Due Process In Duane Wright Shooting\">police officer involved<\/a>, supported by the Foundation for \u2063Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE). They claim the\u2062 original speech restriction\u200b was unconstitutional.\u200c Even though\u200c the city \u2063council has now repealed the ban,\u200b detractors \u200bnote that the damage to Massie has \u2064already\u2064 been done, as she faced\u2062 unjust treatment for exercising her right to\u200c free \u200bspeech.\u2064 Updates on her lawsuit indicate it\u2063 is still ongoing, highlighting the challenges of \u200bgovernment \u200baccountability\u2062 and citizens&#8217; rights.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-body body-md bdr-top-black pt-30\">\n<div class=\"row justify-content-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12\">\n<figure class=\"article-thumbnail mb-30 mb-sm-60\">\n<div class=\"article-thumbnail-caption d-flex align-items-center justify-content-md-end label-xs mt-15\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-camera me-10\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Image Credit<\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=q_ZQasQJcQ0\">12 News\/YouTube<\/a>       <\/div>\n<\/figure><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-share text-center article-share-simple\">\n<h5 class=\"label-sm mb-10\">Share<\/h5>\n<ul class=\"article-share-list list-unstyled m-0 p-0\">\n<li class=\"article-share-facebook m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/09\/18\/arizona-city-repeals-speech-ban-that-got-mom-dragged-out-of-council-meeting-after-criticizing-officials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-facebook\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Facebook<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-twitter m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Arizona%20City%20Repeals%20Speech%20Ban%20That%20Got%20Mom%20Dragged%20Out%20Of%20Council%20Meeting%20After%20Criticizing%20Officials&amp;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/09\/18\/arizona-city-repeals-speech-ban-that-got-mom-dragged-out-of-council-meeting-after-criticizing-officials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Twitter<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-truth-social m-0\">       <a href=\"https:\/\/truthsocial.com\/share?title=Arizona%20City%20Repeals%20Speech%20Ban%20That%20Got%20Mom%20Dragged%20Out%20Of%20Council%20Meeting%20After%20Criticizing%20Officials&amp;url=https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/09\/18\/arizona-city-repeals-speech-ban-that-got-mom-dragged-out-of-council-meeting-after-criticizing-officials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">         <svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" fill=\"currentColor\" style=\"width:36px;height:auto;\" viewbox=\"0 0 92 93\"><path d=\"M69.444 55.716H56.772v10.37h12.672zM64.487 37.795V27.32H38.666v38.664h13.18v-28.19zM21.05 27.321h12.653v10.471H21.051z\" https:><\/path><\/svg>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article on Truth Social<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-link m-0\">       <button data-clipboard-text=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/09\/18\/arizona-city-repeals-speech-ban-that-got-mom-dragged-out-of-council-meeting-after-criticizing-officials\/\" data-tooltip-content=\"Copied!\" class=\"clip tooltip\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-link-variant\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Copy Article Link<\/span>       <\/button>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\">       <a href=\"mailto:?subject=Arizona%20City%20Repeals%20Speech%20Ban%20That%20Got%20Mom%20Dragged%20Out%20Of%20Council%20Meeting%20After%20Criticizing%20Officials&amp;body=The%20original%20rule%20was%20cited%20by%20Mayor%20Hall%20during%20the%20City%20Council's%20Aug.%2020%20meeting%20before%20he%20had%20resident%20Rebekah%20Massie%20forcibly%20removed.%20%20https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/09\/18\/arizona-city-repeals-speech-ban-that-got-mom-dragged-out-of-council-meeting-after-criticizing-officials\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">         <i class=\"mdi mdi-email\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>         <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Share Article via Email<\/span>       <\/a>     <\/li>\n<li class=\"article-share-email m-0\"><span class=\"printfriendly pf-button  pf-alignleft\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" onclick=\"window.print(); return false;\" title=\"Printer Friendly, PDF &amp; Email\"><span id=\"printfriendly-text2\" class=\"pf-button-text\"><i class=\"mdi mdi-printer\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<p>An Arizona city repealed a rule restricting residents&rsquo; public testimony on Tuesday, weeks after a local mother was arrested for speaking at a city council meeting last month. <\/p>\n<p>In a unanimous vote, the Surprise City Council revoked a regulation barring residents from criticizing city officials during public meetings, as a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.12news.com\/article\/news\/local\/valley\/surprise-city-council-votes-repeal-rule-prohibited-speakers-from-criticizing-city-employees\/75-a9083ac5-b9ed-4f07-ade2-c178fd6aafa7\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">local NBC affiliate<\/a> reported. According to the outlet, &ldquo;[m]embers of the council did not speak further about the [new] rule during Tuesday&rsquo;s meeting&rdquo; and it remains &ldquo;unclear when [it] will go into effect.&rdquo; <\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-afcbc51512bad0da8bacafad75911863 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-2\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-afcbc51512bad0da8bacafad75911863\"><\/div>\n<p>The original rule was cited by Mayor Hall during the City Council&rsquo;s Aug. 20 meeting before he had resident Rebekah Massie forcibly removed. The Arizona mother used the public forum to criticize the city attorney but was stopped mid-testimony by Hall, who&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/29\/first-amendment-group-says-it-plans-to-support-arizona-resident-arrested-for-speaking-at-city-meeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">accused<\/a>&nbsp;her of &ldquo;attacking the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/free-speech-group-says-it-plans-to-sue-az-city-over-arrest\/\" title=\"Free Speech Group Says It Plans To Sue AZ City Over Arrest\">city attorney personally&#038;rdquo<\/a>; and violating&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/radiofreehubcity.com\/2024\/08\/25\/surprise-arizona-resident-detained-during-council-meeting-raising-first-amendment-concerns\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">rules<\/a>&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/arizona-mom-sues-city-over-unconstitutional-public-meeting-rule\/\" title=\"Arizona Mom Sues City Over &#039;Unconstitutional&#039; Public Meeting Rule\">governing public meetings<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>Massie objected and said the regulation violated her First Amendment rights to free speech but was nonetheless detained by the police officer overseeing the meeting at Hall&rsquo;s direction. She was <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/29\/first-amendment-group-says-it-plans-to-support-arizona-resident-arrested-for-speaking-at-city-meeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">arrested<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2024\/08\/29\/first-amendment-group-says-it-plans-to-support-arizona-resident-arrested-for-speaking-at-city-meeting\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">subsequently charged<\/a> with multiple misdemeanors, as previously reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/archive.md\/11tZb#selection-671.176-671.205\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">The Arizona Republic<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>The arrest prompted Massie to file a lawsuit against Hall, the city of Surprise, and the aforementioned police officer earlier this month. Represented by attorneys with the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the complaint argued the rule violates her First Amendment rights to free speech.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;When Massie exercised her constitutional right to criticize officials at a City Council meeting, a right &lsquo;high in the hierarchy of First Amendment values,&rsquo; &hellip; the Council Criticism Policy and Mayor Hall ensured she left the meeting in handcuffs,&rdquo; the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thefire.org\/research-learn\/massie-v-city-surprise-complaint\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">lawsuit<\/a> reads, claiming such conduct is &ldquo;an affront to [the] Constitution.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-bebb7ae0acf103132eade0695c2ffcd4 fdrlst__b89e9-paragraph-6\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-bebb7ae0acf103132eade0695c2ffcd4\"><\/div>\n<p>In a statement provided to The Federalist this week, FIRE Attorney Conor Fitzpatrick said that while the Surprise City Council&rsquo;s decision to &ldquo;scrap its unconstitutional rule banning criticism of public officials is the right move,&rdquo; the &ldquo;damage has already been done.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Twenty-eight days ago, police dragged a local mom out of the meeting for criticizing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wi-city-looks-to-tap-leftist-lawfare-attorneys-ahead-of-election\/\" title=\"WI City Looks To Tap Leftist Lawfare Attorneys Ahead Of Election\">city attorney&#038;rsquo<\/a>;s pay. Twenty-eight days ago, Mayor Skip Hall abused his power to stifle dissent. This decision comes 28 days too late for Rebekah Massie,&rdquo; Fitzpatrick said. <\/p>\n<p>FIRE Media Relations Specialist Jack Whitten confirmed to The Federalist that Massie&rsquo;s lawsuit &ldquo;remains ongoing.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<div class=\"fdrlst__b89e9-863c6ff02b2e27867065e03bfb5068aa fdrlst__b89e9-after-post-content\" id=\"fdrlst__b89e9-863c6ff02b2e27867065e03bfb5068aa\"><\/div>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator\">\n<div class=\"article-author-description fst-italic\">      Shawn Fleetwood is a staff writer for The Federalist and a graduate of the University of Mary Washington. He previously served as a state content writer for Convention of States Action and his work has been featured in numerous outlets, including RealClearPolitics, RealClearHealth, and Conservative Review. Follow him on Twitter @ShawnFleetwood<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-30 bdr-top-bold-black\">\n<div class=\"row g-0 align-items-center\">\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6\">\n<div class=\"article-author-profile d-flex align-items-center justify-content-center justify-content-md-start\">\n<div class=\"article-author-details\">\n<div class=\"label-md\">Shawn Fleetwood<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-twitter label-sm d-flex align-items-center mt-10\">             <i class=\"mdi mdi-twitter me-5\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>             <span class=\"visually-hidden\">Visit on Twitter<\/span>            <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ShawnFleetwood\" target=\"_blank\" class=\"text-decoration-none\" rel=\"noopener\">@ShawnFleetwood<\/a>           <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-12 col-md-6 d-flex justify-content-center justify-content-md-end mt-15 mt-md-0\">        <a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/author\/shawnfleetwood\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">More Articles<\/a>     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"article-tags bdr-top-black mt-30 mt-sm-60 pt-15 pt-md-45\">\n<ul class=\"list-unstyled d-flex flex-wrap align-items-center mb-0 mx-n10 p-0\">\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/arizona\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Arizona<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/censorship\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">censorship<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/city-council\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">city council<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/constitutional-rights\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">constitutional rights<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/first-amendment\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">First Amendment<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/foundation-for-individual-rights-and-expression\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/free-speech\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">free speech<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/rebekah-massie\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Rebekah Massie<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/skip-hall\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Skip Hall<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"mt-10 mx-10\"><a href=\"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/tag\/surprise\/\" class=\"btn btn-black btn-small\">Surprise<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>An Arizona city has overturned a regulation that limited residents&#8217; ability to speak publicly, just weeks after a local mother was arrested for her comments at a city council meeting. The Surprise City Council voted unanimously to eliminate the rule that prohibited residents from criticizing city officials during public sessions, as reported by a local NBC affiliate. The report noted that council members did not discuss the new rule further during Tuesday&#8217;s meeting, and it is still unclear when it will take effect.<\/p>\n<p>The original regulation was referenced by Mayor Hall during the City Council&#8217;s August 20 meeting when he had resident Rebekah Massie forcibly removed. Massie had been using the public forum to voice her concerns about the city attorney but was interrupted by Hall, who accused her of personally attacking the attorney and breaching public meeting rules. Despite Massie&#8217;s objections\u2014claiming that the regulation infringed on her First Amendment rights\u2014she was detained at Hall&#8217;s request and subsequently arrested on multiple misdemeanor charges, as previously reported by The Arizona Republic.<\/p>\n<p>Following her arrest, Massie filed a lawsuit against Mayor Hall, the city of Surprise, and the police officer involved earlier this month. Represented by attorneys from the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), she argued that the rule violated her right to free speech under the First Amendment. The lawsuit states that when Massie attempted to exercise her constitutional right to criticize officials at a City Council meeting\u2014a right deemed &#8220;high in importance&#8221; within First Amendment values\u2014the Council\u2019s Criticism Policy led to her being taken away in handcuffs.<\/p>\n<p>In comments made this week to The Federalist, FIRE Attorney Conor Fitzpatrick acknowledged that while repealing this unconstitutional rule is a positive step for Surprise City Council, &#8220;the damage has already been done.&#8221; He pointed out that just 28 days prior, police had removed Massie from a meeting for questioning a city attorney\u2019s salary and criticized Mayor Skip Hall for misusing his authority to suppress dissent. Fitzpatrick concluded by stating this decision came too late for Rebekah Massie.<\/p>\n<p>FIRE Media Relations Specialist Jack Whitten confirmed with The Federalist that Massie&#8217;s lawsuit is still active<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":539,"featured_media":2342869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Screenshot-2024-09-18-at-12.01.14%E2%80%AFPM.png","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[41149,36854,41151,41150],"class_list":["post-2342868","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-az-city","tag-local-news","tag-mom-dragged","tag-speech-ban"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/thefederalist.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/Screenshot-2024-09-18-at-12.01.14%E2%80%AFPM.png","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342868","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/539"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2342868"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2342868\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2342869"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2342868"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2342868"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2342868"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}