Critics say Loudoun County Board of Supervisors Chair Phyllis Randall silenced free speech and undermined the community by enforcing a new public comment policy without notice or Board approval.
During the July 15th meeting abruptly announced that only public comments directly addressing agenda items would be allowed and proceeded to cut off speakers, including three Muslims prompting one to exclaim “Thanks for shutting down Arab women.”
Frustrated citizens tried to speak on issues important to them, but were blocked by what critics have called an uneven enforcement of the rule. Red Virginia News highlights that Randall primarily silenced speakers with concerns that she disagreed on while allowing other speakers to veer off the required agenda.
The rule requiring speeches to be on a specific agenda item is new and has never been voted on or announced at other meetings. (RELATED: Stewart Whitson Signs “Stand With Women Commitment”)
Loudoun County’s Board of Supervisors have stirred up controversy by weighing in on the ongoing conflict in Israel with both supporters of Israel and Palestine using their County positions to speak about the international conflict.
Other Loudoun County officials are also suggesting restricting public input. Loudoun County School Board Member Anne Donohue has proposed clamping down on public comments to one meeting per month.
“While it is fantastic to have the community involvement and to hear from the members of the community what their priorities are and what is of most importance to them, I have struggled with how to balance that in light of our other responsibilities,” Donohue said during a June meeting.
Changes to the School Board policy follows two consecutive meetings during which outraged parents came to condemn the board’s policy allowing a girl to film boys inside the boys’ locker room.
Loudoun County schools have been plagued with sexual misconduct allegations and state authorities have referred the cases federal Department of Justice for Investigation. (RELATED: Virginia Revenue Surges, Bucks National Slowdown)