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Public criticism and calls for review after Sunnyvale staff remove Palestinian map at Hands on the Arts festival
Summary
Public commenters faulted city staff for removing a Palestinian history map and press for training on anti‑Palestinian racism and fair event processes. City manager said the matter is under review; council did not take formal punitive action at the meeting.
Dozens of speakers and several community groups addressed the City Council May 6 over the removal of a poster from the Palestine Palette booth at Sunnyvale’s Hands on the Arts festival on May 3, and many called on the city to investigate the incident and improve event procedures.
Why it matters: multiple residents and community organizations said volunteers were harassed and that the city’s decision to require the poster’s removal amounted to censorship and discrimination; others told council the city acted appropriately to keep a children’s event age‑appropriate. The issue drew dozens of public speakers and sharply divergent viewpoints at the council meeting.
City manager Kirby told council staff were “carefully reviewing the occurrence” after staff became aware that an artist had displayed materials not approved in advance for a children’s craft project and said the materials could have been displayed in the festival’s free‑speech area. Kirby said staff had heard…
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