CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia (ACLU-WV) has sent a letter warning Parkersburg City Council that it is violating people’s free speech rights by barring them from so much as mentioning council members during public meetings. Several community members have contacted ACLU-WV about the policy.
In a letter dated April 3, ACLU-WV Legal Director Aubrey Sparks told council members the policy is “blatantly and unquestionably impermissible.”
Council members have been enforcing a policy that prohibits members of the public from criticizing council members or even mentioning them during public comments at council meetings, according to community members.
The policy is a form of content-based restriction of free speech in a public forum, Sparks said.
“The ability to criticize government officials is part of the foundation of our democracy,” Sparks said. “Free speech by nature includes criticism of government officials. Parkersburg City Council has a choice: They can grow thicker skin or we’ll see them in court.”