I will be the first to admit I was unaware of a pending threat that City Councils across the Country have to deal with when I wrote my story City Council To Vote Tuesday To Restrict Public Comments At Meetings. It was a threat terrible enough that our Council felt they had to act quickly and strictly limit specific behaviors by creating a resolution to do what my story title says: to limit public comments at meetings. Resolution 2831 was debated tonight and passed the Hillsboro City Council with some changes. The changes resolved my biggest concern, and it just took some wordsmithing to ensure our citizens can still speak virtually and in person about whatever is on their minds, provided what they say is not profane, vulgar, or offensive.
Just before I gave my testimony over Zoom regarding Resolution 2831, a woman took her 3 minutes to talk about so many issues, so quickly, that it defied explanation or understanding. While not entirely offensive, it was laced with references that were and mentioned rape and molestation, people’s names, and had at least one “N’ bomb in it. The Council sat by and listened. We all did. There was probably a hand somewhere with the tech team on the OFF button, but balancing free speech with that button will prove so difficult.
Now, across town, our Neighbors in Beaverton were having their Council meeting. They also had a Muslim American History Month Proclamation by Beaverton Mayor Lacey Beaty. Like Hillsboro, the public communication and comments period came. According to two readers of the Herald who were watching, four callers in a row started off all right but ended up with anti-Semitic-laced rants. It went on for 15 minutes. It was horrific.
We have now received information (unconfirmed at this late hour) that the calls were initiated from Massachusetts. Also, this is an example of a relatively new trend called “Zoombombing.” And it has hit Beaverton more than once. Hillsboro got a taste of something tonight, which we are still trying to sort out. There can be no doubt that the Israel-Gaza conflict has stirred things up. But how are we to govern if we can not be civil? That question has been out there since former President Donald Trump sent thousands of goon insurrectionists to the Capitol to take it down. And his rhetoric is fueling the hate. Yes, I said that. And we all know it’s true.
“The first caller started reading off what seemed to be a scripted speech that culminated with using a vulgar Jewish slur and calling for death to Jews. I was so shocked, I audibly gasped! The next couple of calls were littered with similar vulgarities, plus homophobic slurs. Afterward, someone, who I believe was the tech guy, said they were calling in from Massachusetts. It’s clearly organized protest, which is protected by the Constitution. The question they are grappling with, I imagine, is how it can be prevented from taking attention away from the people’s business that the council is there to do. The Mayor, to her credit, made a point to point out that this does not represent the people of the city of Beaverton.” Marc Grambo of Hillsboro, running for City Council, was attending the Beaverton Council meeting to support the presentation.
They say one man can change the world, and we have seen that over time. Trump holds no monopoly on hate, but he is certainly hitting its flames with a gasoline nozzle the size of Trump Tower. But this is where we find ourselves—a brave new crossroads. We have to question things like Virtual testimony at public meetings, which gained so much traction during the COVID-19 pandemic that we consider them rights. It is time to reconsider.
The Hillsboro City Council recently had a retreat; sources tell me they saw this coming. The rushed resolution seemed unfounded because it was not spoken about or shared with the public. After all, we have had very few, if any, issues up until tonight. But there is no doubt there will be more. So, I appreciate what the Council and staff did to get this done with the revisions they made tonight.
Here is the testimony of the caller mentioned above at the Hillsboro City Council Meeting on 3/5-24- NOT SUITABLE FOR CHILDREN
And what do we do about AI? With AI, we can expect actual calls with authentic human voices that a screener cannot sort out. We can only require double verification or some way that Virtual testimony can be tied to an actual person, like an ID or something. It may be time to go back to written and in-person testimony. That might be where we are at now.
A friend was at the Beaverton Council meeting and shared this:
“They didn’t know what to do, so they just let them play…AWKWARD! It wasn’t good!”
Another said the people were all trolls.
We have to hope these people are probably harassing councils more than anything. But that would be foolish.
The ADL is the leading anti-hate organization in the world. They have tracked hundreds of these Zoombombs, and they are becoming more aggressive and more hateful. More aimed at marginalized groups, and now, with Fascism on the rise, they are seeing a huge increase in racially motivated rants. You can read more from that storied group on this topic right here. https://www.adl.org/resources/blog/antisemites-racists-and-other-bigots-are-hijacking-public-meetings
The Herald is on top of this- and we want you to know it is here…in Oregon. Portland may be the hotbed for these issues, but it is our turn, and we all better wake up. I am going to stay involved and will lobby for anyone using the Virtual platforms to spread hate to be found and punished if at all possible! My hat is off to our Council for passing the resolution and to City Manager Robby Hammond and his staff for proactively addressing this threat.
We will not have this in Hillsboro if we can help it.
For more reading, check out these stories
https://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/politics-government/article285193417.html
Rewrite By Bard: Here is AI’s take on what I wrote- how do you like this? I do NOT write with AI and always author all my work. But this is a scary reality- just like those phone calls that we are hearing about now.
Zoombombing and the Erosion of Civil Discourse at Public Meetings
This recent incident at the Hillsboro City Council meeting, and similar events across the country, highlight a disturbing trend: the rise of “Zoombombing” and its detrimental impact on civil discourse at public forums. While virtual testimony, a product of the pandemic, served a vital purpose, its potential for abuse demands reevaluation.
A Witness to Hate:
Witnessing the offensive and disruptive public comment firsthand, I was struck by the Council’s apparent helplessness. This incident in Hillsboro, coupled with the anti-Semitic rants in Beaverton, exposes a national issue requiring immediate attention.
Beyond the Pandemic:
The ease of online participation, while initially lauded as a democratic advancement, has become a breeding ground for hateful and disruptive behavior. The anonymity afforded by virtual platforms emboldens individuals to spew hate with impunity, hindering genuine public discourse and targeting marginalized communities.
The Challenge of Balancing Rights:
The solution lies not in stifling free speech, but in finding a way to ensure its responsible exercise. Implementing safeguards, such as double verification or requiring identification for virtual testimony, could deter malicious actors. However, striking the right balance between security and accessibility remains a complex and ongoing challenge.
A Call to Action:
The Hillsboro City Council’s swift action in revising Resolution 2831 demonstrates a commitment to protecting civil discourse. We, as a community, must collectively work towards solutions. Holding individuals accountable for online hate speech, advocating for responsible use of technology, and fostering a culture of respect are crucial steps.
This incident serves as a stark reminder that the benefits of technology come with inherent risks. We must remain vigilant in protecting our democratic spaces and ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in a civil and respectful manner.
Sometimes, especially where free speech is concerned, it’s best to just refuse to be rude, and call rude behavior what it is, childish and cruel.. Thank you Dirk . .
Thanks, Larry
With the first off topic comment or vulgarity, cut off the caller. We reap what we sow. Strip back to basic rules of behavior and sweep out the new age actions.
Agreed
AS LONG AS THOSE WHO ARE IN CHARGE DO NOT ACT SWIFTLY AND AGGRESSIVELY TO STOP AND ALL CONDUCT SUCH AS WHAT HAS BEEN SAID IN THE ARTICLE. I FIND THOSE REPRESENTATIVES IRRESPONSIBLE AND IT IRRITATES ME TO NO END. THE ONLY WAY WE’RE GOING TO HAVE ANY CONTROL OVER THIS SITUATION IS THAT WHOEVER WANTS TO TALK MUST DO SO IN PERSON. PERIOD.
You might be right!