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21 <br /> John Roberts said not to his knowledge. <br /> Commissioner McKee said he has not either. He said that the school board approached <br /> the Board due to a concern over students. He said he has sat through multiple discussions on <br /> this, and has not heard of physical harm or crime, or threatening actions. He said this is a <br /> solution looking for a problem. He said he understands that some people may feel intimidated, <br /> and have angst, but no one is ever guaranteed protection against this. He said his primary <br /> concern on an action like this is abridgment of freedom of speech. He said that without that <br /> right, a lot of injustices that have occurred in past years, particularly to Black citizens, would not <br /> have been addressed without people being vocal and protesting. He said he can't support this. <br /> He said that 1,000 feet means that someone can't stand on Churton St. and would have to <br /> stand at the intersection. He said that he has concerns with the younger children but they are <br /> more resilient than a lot of people think. He said that he remembers growing up and hearing <br /> language about certain groups of people and he immediately knew that was not right. He said <br /> that his parents enforced that it was not right. He said that he expects a lot of parents at the <br /> meeting are concerned about their children and other people's children, and he does not <br /> believe they are at a point where they need to address this as a Board. He said that the Board <br /> has enacted a lot of programs to reduce the interactions of law enforcement with citizens to <br /> keep people out of the court system. He said that this would enact civil penalties, debt, and <br /> allows the county to seek other equitable forms of relief against people who are on private <br /> property. He said passing this puts law enforcement agency right in the middle. <br /> Commissioner Hamilton thanked everyone for coming and said it is good to hear <br /> concerns of this group. She said she hears a lot of concerns from parents about what is going <br /> on at Orange County schools. She said she was on the CHCCS Board and understands that it <br /> is difficult for parents to be heard. She said that there are a lot of ways that parents can work <br /> together to be heard at schools without affecting the school environment of the students. She <br /> said she supported this ordinance because she was concerned about what has occurred at <br /> Orange County Schools. She said that she watched some videos from the events and went to <br /> the Sheriff's Office to talk with them about it as well. She said that she spoke with individuals <br /> that did feel intimidated by what happened. She said that she listened to the resolutions. She <br /> said that as someone in mental health field, she has worked with students who have been <br /> traumatized and intimidated. She said she does not take lightly the kind of school environment <br /> that allows all children to feel safe. She said that there is an epidemic of mental health crisis in <br /> this country. She said that there are a lot of factors, and it is paramount to have a school <br /> climate that is safe to everybody. She said she is open to revising the distances. She said it is <br /> important to have all students feel safe. She said that is the genesis to have an ordinance for <br /> picketing. She said that there are other ways to do it and she encouraged them to do that, <br /> including coming to the Whitted Building. She said she is in support of the county attorney's <br /> recommended changes and agrees with lessening 1,000 feet to 450 or what is in line with other <br /> ordinances. <br /> Commissioner Bedford said this ordinance specifically excludes places of public <br /> meetings. She said she supports this ordinance. She said that children need protection from <br /> some behaviors of adults. She said there are other venues for adults to protest. She said that <br /> she accepts the recommendations from the attorney and that 450 feet is more appropriate. <br /> Commissioner Greene said there were people in favor at the last board meeting. She <br /> said she is leery of this ordinance. She said she did not have evidence of the harm to students <br /> and is not ready to move forward with this ordinance at this time. She said there is a long <br /> history of political protests and as long as they are nonviolent, she doesn't believe children <br /> going in and out of schools should be shielded from seeing a protest. She said that she doesn't <br /> believe this is an urgent curtailment of First Amendment rights. She does believe the attorney <br /> has accurately stated what the First Amendment is about. She said that the reasoning is that <br />