Minutes 04-02-2019 Regular Meeting

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2 2. Public Comments a. Matters not on the Printed Agenda Cindy Talisman said she understood the County's theme for National Women's month to be "Visionary Women: Champions of Peace and Non-Violence." She said this theme did not seem congruent with the keynote speaker this past Sunday, Linda Sarsour. She said she is ashamed that the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the Hillsborough Mayor endorsed bringing this speaker to Orange County. She said Orange County should support unity, and this speaker was in conflict of that. She said Annette Moore informed the BOCC at its March 17 meeting, that a nationally known speaker would be coming, the identity of whom could not be revealed; she also failed to reveal the cost to bring this speaker to Orange County. She said the BOCC accepted this unknown speaker, cost and agenda, which seemed unwise. She said she does not deny Ms. Sarsour the right to free speech, but does protest the use of taxpayer money to pay for someone who promotes hatred of police officers, supports Lewis Farrakon, and has made anti-Semitic remarks. She said she would like to know the costs incurred by the taxpayers for this event, and called for the dismissal of Annette Moore immediately, for a lack of transparency with the residents of Orange County. She said she would also like the BOCC to apologize, and explain its support for this anti-Semetic speaker. Mattie Rose Crowder referred to and read page 4 of the civil rights ordinance, and asked if the civil rights ordinance was followed at Saturday's event. She said it did not promote the equal treatment of all individuals, nor did it protect the personal dignity of all individuals, nor did it prevent strife and unrest within the community. She requested that the Board of County Commissioners and HRC be much more careful in planning events and vet its speakers. She thanked Commissioner McKee for not advocating for this event. Seamus O'Neill read the following comments: Good evening and good cheer to the Commissioners and all attending tonight. My name is Seamus O'Neill and I live at 308 Charleston Lane in Chapel Hill. By trade, I am an economist and financial analyst, and as such I have served as an advisor to both Democrat and Republican elected officials and run two companies created with my business partner. Personally, I have little political history. I was born and raised a Democrat, but I have been an economic conservative for most of my adult life. I joined the Republican party only recently. I am here tonight for two reasons: First, to express my gratitude to the protesters from both sides who on Sunday, March 31St exercised their Right to Free Speech and Assembly while not interfering with the same Rights of their opponents, and to the deputy sheriffs and other law enforcement officers for their positive engagement with both groups of protesters on this highly divisive issue. By extension, compliments to the Orange County Commissioners and to the County Sheriff. Second, I wish to express my profound disappointment with the Orange County Commissioners for permitting the Orange County Human Relations Commission to invite Linda Sarsour to speak, and to spend almost $10,000 of County resources on her speech and related expenses. The Orange County Commissioners facilitated, either by act or omission, the speakership of one of the most polarizing and offensive public figures in the country today. For those that are not familiar with the brand of Linda Sarsour- she traffics in some of the most hateful ideas available in the public square — antisemitism, radical Islam, terrorism, and the demonization of women that speak out for their rights. She is smart, well-spoken, engaging, and dangerous to free people everywhere, particularly, Jews and Muslim women. Having said