Resident says 1A rights chilled

Holly Springs resident Jim Smith confronted the mayor and board of aldermen about the moving of public comment at the Jan. 7 meeting to the top of the agenda.

Aldermen at the meeting requested that pubic comment be placed up close to the top of the agenda so those speaking do not have an opportunity to make remarks about discussions of items on the agenda that took place earlier.

Usually, pubic comment has been placed toward the middle of the agenda, but two aldermen asked that public comment be heard first before board business discussions.

“Once Mr. Shipp suggested to move, you chilled my First Amendment right once it moved to the beginning of the meeting,” Smith said. “It’s the worst thing I have ever heard or seen in the city, it was the conversation surrounding public comment at the last meeting.”

He said he was pointed out as one of two people who constantly gripe.

“I don’t care if you like me. I don’t care if you like what I say. I don’t care if you like how I say it. Once you allow public comment at these meetings, you are required to uphold the First Amendment of the Constitution. Hopefully, you got my letter, he said. I cited a number of Supreme Court cases, but understand the First Amendment protects speech that you hate, not just the speech that you like, that you get upset by, that you are revolted by.

“For example, the flag burning is legal in the First Amendment. I hate it, being a former Marine. You know what, that’s people’s rights. Now, don’t believe me. Talk to any lawyer, because I’m 1000 percent right on this.

“Once Mr. Shipp suggested that you move public comment to the beginning of the meetings so we can’t comment on it, you chilled my First Amendment rights.

“Y’all are crazy. Y’all are crazy. Y’all are playing a game here and you are not doing it good.

“The intent to silence the public is absolutely obvious, and it brings shame to this body and it brings shame to this city. Now, y’all know that I’m a former Marine.

I don’t know if you know that I’m a one hundred percent disabled Marine. I may not like how Mr. Lesure says certain things, or like what he says, but it’s his right.

“I am a disabled Marine and I don’t know what you think about that. I don’t know what you comprehend in that. But I spent a portion of my life that I can never, ever get back so you can sit up here and say whatever you want.

“It’s very personal to me and it’s disgusting that you are trying to chill it.”