Orange County NC Website
18 <br /> 1 with a moment of silence to honor those indigenous people and members of the Occoneechee <br /> 2 Band of the Saponi Nation. She asked if the Board members did not hear the words of Mr. <br /> 3 Zachary and if they did, were they unable to pickup on his intentions. She said there was <br /> 4 nothing threatening about this elderly man showing up to speak. She said that the ability of <br /> 5 citizens to disagree with government is a founding 1St amendment issue. <br /> 6 Kathy Arab said following that, they made the next meeting virtual. She said the next <br /> 7 meeting was held at Stanback Middle School and this time even more people wanted to attend <br /> 8 and speak. She said in a month's time, more concerning issues were coming to light. She said <br /> 9 many people wanted to voice their concerns. She said that the school board spent public funds <br /> 10 to have a law enforcement present. She said there was a deputy for every five citizens. She <br /> 11 said that the people just wanted to be part of the meeting and they were limited to thirty-two. <br /> 12 She said there were others who seemed to be there just to scream at those that wanted to enter <br /> 13 the meeting. She said those who were able to enter found it strange that half of the available <br /> 14 public seats were already filled by those who are known to support the school board. She said <br /> 15 the school board has a policy to publish the agenda but that for this meeting, did not come out <br /> 16 until Saturday. She said that the policy of work meetings is to limit public comment to an agenda <br /> 17 item. She said that items seemed to change and that they were already asked to sign up online <br /> 18 to speak on specific agenda items. She said that changing up the agenda drastically was what <br /> 19 the school board at the time was doing. She said the Sheriff's department was also told who to <br /> 20 throw out. She said that it undermines liberty for all citizens and this picketing ordinance is a <br /> 21 perpetuation of this pattern. She said that those that spoke previously were followed by police <br /> 22 officers to the podium. <br /> 23 Kristal Clure said there is a school board policy that says members should relate in a <br /> 24 courteous manner to the citizens they serve. She said that in spring of 2022 school board <br /> 25 member participated in protest herself. She said that there is a video where the board member <br /> 26 repeatedly speaks over citizens and tells parents to contact the school board for accurate <br /> 27 information even chasing down parents. She said when a Sheriff's deputy arrived the video <br /> 28 shows that the deputy determines that the private individual's actions were legal and that she <br /> 29 was not sharing information to tarnish a school board member. She said that the school board <br /> 30 member created disruption where there was none. She said if the previous board was <br /> 31 concerned about protecting children it seems she wouldn't have engaged in this behavior. She <br /> 32 said they have a history of wanting to silence parents and students who disagree with them and <br /> 33 prevent sharing of documented factual data that would not reflect well on them but more <br /> 34 accurately inform the voter base. <br /> 35 Carol Kunkel said that September 24, 2021 a protest was organized. She said that <br /> 36 previous school board member McKenzie described it as a tailgate protest, planned at Orange <br /> 37 High School and billed as a protest of Covid measures. She said that the protestors were simply <br /> 38 protesting spectator limits and mask requirements. She said that Sheriff Blackwood issued a <br /> 39 public report afterward and said that a small group of protestors assembled outside the football <br /> 40 game. He said another group that claimed to be part of the proud boys also gathered. He said <br /> 41 that neither side engaged in action that constituted an illegal activity or speech that went outside <br /> 42 the bounds of free speech that is protected. He said that despite the unpleasantness, no crimes <br /> 43 were committed, the football game was not interrupted, and the traffic was not a significant <br /> 44 disruption. She said read comments made by Commissioner Greene at the June 21, 2022 <br /> 45 BOCC meeting. She said she agreed with what Commissioner Greene noted about there not <br /> 46 being an urgent need. She asked for the commissioners to not approve the ordinance. <br /> 47 Sarah Snipes said this protest originated from students who wanted to have a tailgate <br /> 48 party to protest the spectator restrictions that had been put on the students. She said that this <br /> 49 was going to be on school property and in a safe location. She said that she reached out to the <br /> 50 school board before the protest for space in the parking lot and was turned down. She said that <br /> 51 on October 11 the school board adopted the resolution to address harm. She said that the hate <br />