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Public commenters accuse selective enforcement after political chalk removed from Green Prince Trail
Summary
At the Sept. 15 meeting, public commenters said city staff scrubbed non‑vulgar political chalk messages from the Green Prince Trail and called it selective enforcement; speakers urged the council to protect political speech and provide clearer public-comment processes.
Woodstock, Ga. — Two residents told the City Council on Sept. 15 they believe city staff selectively removed political chalk messages and constrained public comment opportunities, and they urged council to protect free expression in public spaces.
Wayne Marshall and Martha Jean Schindler addressed the council during public comment about the Green Prince Trail, which Marshall described as a nonpolitical community amenity. “This should be a nonpolitical and graffiti-free area for all to enjoy,” Marshall said, asking candidates to refrain from persistent campaign messages on shared green spaces.
Martha Jean Schindler, a mayoral candidate, said she and volunteers used sidewalk chalk to post positive messages about traffic, housing and a town‑hall invitation and that city staff responded by scrubbing the messages and calling police. “The messages were scrubbed away and the police were called,” Schindler said. She labeled the actions “selective enforcement” and said the response chilled political speech. “There is a pattern of silencing speech here in Woodstock,” she said.
Schindler also criticized the city’s public-comment process, saying agenda information is not provided early enough for citizens to speak confidently and describing rules that limit time and format for speakers. She urged the council to “stand up for the Constitution,” saying the city should not create “first-class and second-class citizens” by permitting some messages while removing others.
Mayor Michael Caldwell and staff did not announce a formal policy change at the meeting. The council did not act on the complaints; no ordinance or formal staff directive addressing chalk or campaign activity on trails was proposed during the session. Staff did note at the podium that parks activities such as sponsored chalk-art events routinely occur in the system and that general park rules apply.
Speakers and city staff diverged on whether enforcement was selective or a routine application of park and right-of-way rules. The matter may be raised again to request a written clarification of enforcement policy for messages and temporary political materials on public sidewalks and trails, and whether political messaging is treated differently than other temporary uses.
Sources: Public comments by Wayne Marshall and Martha Jean Schindler at the Sept. 15 Woodstock City Council meeting.
