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Woodstock public commenters raise free‑speech concerns over downtown table placements; mayor cites railroad property limits
Summary
At the Sept. 8 meeting several public commenters, including a mayoral candidate, said police had told them political tables downtown were illegal and urged the council to protect free‑speech rights; the mayor and staff said the railroad owns portions of downtown right‑of‑way and has asked the city to keep setups off railroad property.
Several residents used the Sept. 8 Woodstock mayor and council meeting to raise concerns about enforcement of sidewalk and right‑of‑way rules that they say have been used to restrict political speech downtown.
Martha Jean Schindler, identified herself as a citizen and candidate for mayor, said volunteers from the Cherokee Democrats regularly set up a table downtown to hand out flyers and speak with passersby. Schindler told council that on multiple recent occasions police told volunteers their table placement was illegal and she said the city allowed repeated complaints to be used as a means of silencing political speech. "The first amendment doesn't need a permit here in Woodstock, and neither do the people," Schindler said.
Thomas Weaver, who spoke earlier, asked council to ensure the city remains in compliance with state law after raising a legal concern the city has now referred to counsel review. Gopinath (Gobi)…
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