Orange County NC Website
17 <br /> wearing a T-shirt with the words "Biden Sucks" on the front, can the Sheriff cite the "Biden <br /> Sucks" wearer for protesting, because "Biden Sucks" meets your definition of a protest? <br /> 8b -And if the deputy cites only the "Biden Sucks" T-shirt person, is that decision made based <br /> on the content of the speech of the "Biden Sucks" wearer? (Wearing a shirt is speech.) <br /> 8c - So, does that means that any clothing worn near a school can be the basis for a citation? <br /> Does that mean that deputies will have to judge every piece of clothing, every conversation, <br /> every hand gesture to determine if a "protest" is occurring? <br /> 9 - Will the Sheriff's department have to spend time and resources responding to complaints <br /> about "picketing," when they could instead be helping prevent and solve actual crimes? <br /> 10 - Since the ordinance claims that enrolled students are not subject to this ordinance <br /> because: "such students are governed by school district rules and regulations," isn't it actually <br /> the case that that statement can't ever be true on property outside a school's physical <br /> boundaries, because the school district has no legal authority to control property outside a <br /> school's boundaries? <br /> 11 - Given the words in Section 24-5(c)(1) of your ordinance: "Picketing on state owned or <br /> federally owned property is not subject to the terms and prohibitions of this section," does that <br /> mean that, because there are state owned roads adjacent to EVERY school (except one) in <br /> Orange County, picketing is actually allowed by this ordinance everywhere you'd like to ban? <br /> 12 -And finally, does that therefore mean that the protest outside the Orange High football <br /> event last fall and the parent handing out information near New Hope Elementary this spring <br /> would be completely untouched by this proposed ordinance? (The two events cited by the OCS <br /> Board and staff as reasons to push for this ordinance.) <br /> He asked that the County Attorney answer all of these questions, in front of the public, during <br /> the next BOCC Business meeting. <br /> Tara Stewart asked the Commissioners to remove this from consideration forever. She <br /> said that the previous school board has pattern of silencing and that they asked this board to <br /> create this ordinance under false pretenses. She said there has been no evidence of laws <br /> broken, etc. She said that law enforcement has said actions were legal. She said that passing <br /> the ordinance will lead to increased instances with law enforcement caught in the middle. She <br /> said that restricting free speech for everyone is not how to protect children. She said it is a <br /> blatant violation of the first amendment. <br /> Kim Pettineo said she is not asking the BOCC to solve school system issues, but it is <br /> important for the context to be added. She said that the school board has consistently made it <br /> difficult and sometimes impossible for the public to attend events or make public comment. She <br /> said they are now trying to use law enforcement to intimidate and show favor to individuals who <br /> supported the school board's views. She said the Board cuts off those speaking with opposing <br /> views. She said they banned citizens from attending future meetings and in one case, because <br /> of the way they were dressed. She said that in zero cases did board members respond to the <br /> emails. She said that one member went out to physically intimidate parents on a public road. <br /> She said this was sanctioned by the school board. She said the BOCC has been strung along <br /> by the previous school board. She said that the purpose is not to protect children, but continue <br /> the pattern of parent suppression. <br /> Gretchen Schmid said she is speaking on behalf of Moms for Liberty. She said at a <br /> school board meeting that many residents came to participate, but all but ten had to wait <br /> outside the building. She said she attended the meeting and listened to those who were <br /> disagreeing with decisions made by the school board. She said that people were upset with the <br /> overreach of the school board. She said that Mr. Zachary spoke that night and that he is a <br /> grandfather whose family has been in the area for over 200 years and a part of the Quaker <br /> settlement who taught Black children to read and write and also helped many slaves escape on <br /> the Underground Railroad. She said that he wore an indigenous costume to represent his Great <br />