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Whittier council chambers cleared after violent, racist outburst during public comment
Summary
A public comment period at the Whittier City Council's Sept. 23 meeting devolved into shouting and racial slurs, prompting the presiding officer to clear the council chambers; the city attorney cited Government Code 54957.95 and Penal Code 403 and the council continued the meeting via Zoom.
A Whittier City Council public comment period on Sept. 23 was interrupted by a disruptive audience member whose remarks included profanity, threats and racial slurs, prompting the presiding officer to pause the meeting and order the chambers cleared.
Mayor Venatieri and staff repeatedly warned the audience to maintain decorum before the meeting was suspended. City Attorney (name not stated) later told the council the chambers had been cleared "due to a disturbance" and cited Government Code 54957.95 as authorizing the presiding member "to remove or cause the removal of any individual who is disrupting the meeting." The attorney also said individuals who fail to leave after being ordered may be arrested under Penal Code section 403.
The disruption began as members of the public were addressing the council. Multiple speakers exchanged heated language; one attendee used racist epithets and appeared to make threatening references to groups, which city staff and the mayor described as a violation of meeting decorum. After clearing the chambers, the attorney said the council could continue without the public present so long as press allowed back in were not causing a disturbance, and reminded the public they could participate via Zoom.
When the meeting resumed the presiding officer reiterated expectations for respectful behavior. Council member (speaker 5) later described the evening as "painful" and emphasized a difference between dissent and disruption, saying the council must preserve civility while allowing speech. The council proceeded with its agenda, including votes taken after the chambers were cleared.
No criminal charges were announced during the meeting, and the city attorney did not identify whether any citations or arrests had occurred. The council did not take immediate additional action at the meeting to change public-comment procedures beyond citing existing state law.
The council moved on to other items after the interruption; the meeting record shows the session adjourned at 9:24 p.m.
