Speakers urge Ferndale to strengthen permit reviews after June 27 event accused of anti‑Jewish hostility

During public comment at the Ferndale City Council meeting, multiple residents urged the council to strengthen permit reviews and publicly condemn anti‑Jewish hostility after a June 27 event at Shiffer Park. Several speakers said the permitted event included hateful slogans, Hamas flags and speakers who denounced Israel, and that Jewish residents felt targeted.

Malka Littman (speaker 9) told the council the event "became a platform for anti Jewish hostility," and asked whether the same rhetoric would have been accepted if targeted at other protected groups. Littman cited Ferndale's Title 6 nondiscrimination policy and said the city must consider predictable consequences when approving events on public property.

Rustomaro Pobreske (speaker 11) described attending with signs supporting Israel and said his group was called "baby killers"; he criticized what he called misinformation presented at the event and named a speaker, Hovaid Arraf, saying allegations of genocide and blocked medical care were presented as facts but remain disputed by independent legal bodies. "I fully support the 1st amendment, but protecting free speech does not relieve the city of its responsibility to exercise sound judgment when authorizing the use of public spaces," Pobreske said.

Other commenters described emotional distress and asked whether the city should change how it reviews permits for events on public property. Speakers repeatedly called on the council to condemn Jew‑hatred and to ensure Ferndale's public spaces remain venues for debate rather than intimidation.

The council did not take formal action during the meeting but heard multiple callers requesting clearer permit standards and public statements condemning hate speech. Staff noted the event was city‑permitted but not city‑sponsored; no new permitting rules were proposed at this meeting.