Callers spewing racism, defending Nazis hijack council meetings across Pierce County
City council meetings across Pierce County have been hijacked in the past week in what appears to be organized attempts to harass and intimidate elected officials. Callers with fake names and addresses have used public comment periods to make antisemitic and racist comments along with veiled references to violence.
Tacoma, Lakewood and Buckley city councils have all been prey for the callers as well as the Pierce County Council. It’s part of a trend that’s affecting other public meetings across the United States.
On Monday, Dec. 4, Lakewood Mayor Jason Whalen seemed caught off guard by the onslaught of callers who lined up virtually to speak. He eventually began shutting down the commenters when they veered into hate speech.
Patterns
The callers, most likely organizing their efforts somewhere on the internet, come en masse to each meeting.
They often begin cordially but become increasingly belligerent. Some begin by pretending to comment on whatever issue a council is discussing only to quickly segue into hate speech.
During a public comment period at a Pierce County Council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 5, a caller pretending to speak about a small business grant program instead launched into a diatribe against Black men. The caller seemed ready to be interrupted and when Council members Marty Campbell and Ryan Mello did so, the caller called them “(N-word) lovers.”
On Nov. 28, the Tacoma City Council was the victim of a hate call campaign. It was student government day, when City Hall is filled with dozens of high school students who sit in on council meetings and meet with leadership, according to city spokesperson Maria Lee.
During these organized hate speech efforts, some callers appeared to be reading from prepared statements, and others were adept at being extemporaneous. Some identify themselves as LGBTQ, Black or Jewish only to launch into hate speech against those groups. One caller to Tacoma’s meeting falsely stated he worked for animal control. Mayor Victoria Woodards quickly shut him down.
Lakewood
Lakewood limits commenters to three minutes. They are asked to state their names and addresses. They are also required to confine their comments to issues directly concerned with Lakewood. While the public can speak to the council in person, the city allows callers to speak via Zoom.
The Dec. 4 barrage began when a person who identified herself as Barbara of Lakewood and a member of the Jewish community read a list of inflammatory statements that were geared to cast Jews in an unfavorable light.
That pattern continued through the evening as callers made antisemitic and racist comments. Many of the commenters framed their hate speech as an exercise of free speech.
“Barbara” called for a city resolution to support the First Amendment.
“That way, all of these gentiles, mostly the white people of this nation, that are basically just forgotten about in their own country, have the right to speak up for themselves,” she said. “And they don’t have to resort to the Second Amendment.”
Nationwide trend
Like other callers, “Barbara” subscribed to a variety of conspiracy theories, including that the entire American news media is controlled by six Jewish individuals and that the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) is trying to limit free speech at public meetings.
On its website, the ADL acknowledges the trend of harassment.
“Extremists and bigots are using the public comment portion of these events, especially those with the option to call in virtually, to push antisemitic, white supremacist and anti-LGBTQ+ narratives,” it states.
The ADL says the trend has grown from tactics right-wing activists have employed at school board meetings to protest masking, vaccine mandates, transgender inclusive policies, LGBTQ-student support and other issues.
During Lakewood’s meeting, a person gave a name that sounded like “Jew destroyer” and claimed that the ADL sends directions to city councils on how to restrict free speech. “Judy Stroyer” then made threats about “spilling blood.”
“At what point do you think the next generation are going to turn on the baby boomers and knock you out, figuratively and literally,” the caller said.
Buckley City Council
On Nov. 28, the Buckley City Council was hit by the same or similar group of callers, according to City Clerk Treva Percival. She estimated between five and 10 callers made antisemitic and bigoted comments via Zoom. Some also displayed visuals.
“The N-word specifically — happened more than once — they shouted during the meeting,” she said.
Mayor Beau Burkett told the callers that the council was only hearing comments on the 2024 budget.
“And that’s when they started showing stuff on the screen and yelling, and so then we just kicked them out of the Zoom meeting,” Percival said.
Buckley is looking into how to prevent a similar occurrence without infringing on free speech, Percival said.
Shutting them down
After a man called in to the Lakewood meeting from South Dakota to complain about Washington state in general, Mayor Whalen reminded callers that they should address only issues in the city.
Caller “Richard” then gave a false address and launched into a Holocaust denial and pro-Hitler narrative.
At that point, Whelan had had enough.
“I just want to remind people that our rules do not allow unfettered hate speech,” he said. “This is public comment on matters pertaining to city business. So, I would encourage you to be constructive in your comments and not use this as a platform for your personal whim.”
Subsequent callers, including Lakewood resident Christina Manetti, expressed shock and dismay over the comments.
“I cannot bear to hear Holocaust denial in any place,” she said.
Things quickly went south again when a “Rudy Hess” called in. Rudolph Hess was a Nazi leader in World War II. The caller challenged Manetti’s comments until Whalen told him to confine his comments to city matters.
“Get to it,” Whalen said.
Hess then launched into anti-Jewish conspiracy theories.
“Madam clerk, shut him down,” Whalen said. The audio went silent.
Still, Whalen allowed subsequent callers to give discursive narratives on feminism, Marxism, climate change and antisemitism but did not end their comments.
“This is not going to be a forum for hate speech,” he said before finally ending the public comment period.
In person
The only in-person speaker in the council chambers then chastised Whalen for shutting down the online speakers. He was complaining about a permitting issue.
“Don’t conflate hate speech with reactions or responses to your particular personal situation,” Whalen told the speaker. “They are completely separate. We listen to you because you have something to say that relates to city business.”
Lakewood City Attorney Heidi Wachter is looking at how to handle future instances of hate speech, city spokeswoman Brynn Grimley said. Like other municipalities, Lakewood has to balance the right to free speech versus the curtailing of hate speech.
“We have the right to not listen to people who spew hate speech that are offensive to many of our residents in this city,” Whalen said Dec. 4. “It’s not just a matter of free speech. And you should know that.”
This story was originally published December 7, 2023 at 5:30 AM.
