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Resident urges Wheeling trustees to act after Columbia student jailed for protest
Summary
At public comment, Tom Divitt asked the board to "help protect the First Amendment" after a Columbia University student protester, Mahmoud Khalil, was jailed; the board listened but took no formal action on the request during the meeting.
During the public-comment portion of Monday's meeting, Tom Divitt urged the Wheeling Board of Trustees to "help protect the First Amendment" and called on the village to act after a Columbia University student protester, Mahmoud Khalil, was jailed on March 8 for participating in a peaceful protest.
Divitt described the incident as a threat to freedom of speech and assembly and said the erosion of constitutional rights is a concern for local government. He told trustees he had contacted state and federal representatives but had not yet received a response and urged the board to consider any action it deemed appropriate, suggesting municipal statements could spur broader action by other jurisdictions.
The board did not record any formal direction or vote in response to the public comment in the meeting transcript; the chair acknowledged the comment and moved on to other business.
