Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Civility Online topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Alderman Smith reads statement condemning online harassment; urges removal of vulgar posts
Summary
Alderman Smith read a prepared statement denouncing online harassment directed at her by a local blogger and called for removal of vulgar posts. She framed the remarks as an issue of harassment and defamation, not policy disagreement.
Alderman Smith read a prepared statement to the council on March 11 condemning a personal, online campaign of harassment she said was being directed at her by a local blogger identified in her remarks as Rick Lawrence.
"This is defamation and completely unacceptable," Smith said in a written statement the council entered into the record. She told the chamber she does not know the blogger personally and said the posts included "sexist innuendo, personal insults and outright lies." Smith said she welcomed "fact-based respectful discussions on policy decisions" but would not tolerate "continued harassment of women by bullies who hide behind keyboards." She called on the author to remove the posts.
Smith described the remarks as personal attacks rather than political disagreement and said she prepared her statement because she was "distraught over recent events that have occurred online." No council action was taken on the statement; it appeared as a personal statement entered on the record and the meeting proceeded to adjourn.
