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Speakers allege veteran was excluded, arrested at Merriam community center event; call for council investigation
Summary
At the city council meeting several residents said a U.S. Navy veteran, Dr. Justin Spies, was denied entry, criminally trespassed and removed from a public event in the Tim Murphy Art Gallery; commenters asked the council to investigate and adopt policies to prevent viewpoint discrimination in city facilities.
Public comment speakers at the Merriam City Council meeting said a U.S. Navy veteran was denied entry and later removed from a public event held in the Tim Murphy Art Gallery at the Merriam Community Center, and urged the council to investigate and adopt policies protecting free speech in city facilities.
The matter drew multiple speakers during the public-comment period, who described the event as an advertised public meeting hosted by a civil liberties organization. "The veteran, Dr. Justin Spies, had reserved a seat at that public event but was unjustly denied entry by the organizing political group after they confirmed his reservation," said Billy Kron, a…
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