Evansville City Council comment ban draws ire as 'sad and disappointing'

EVANSVILLE — As the war in Gaza impacts elections, roots itself into college campuses and remains a mainstay in the public consciousness, there’s one place it’s guaranteed not to come up: Evansville City Council meetings.

During Monday’s city council meeting, president Zac Heronemus gave the edict that community members coming to speak during public comment are no longer allowed to speak on a potential Gaza ceasefire resolution.

Heronemus did not respond to requests for comment from the Courier & Press.

The non-binding resolution, first proposed in March by the local chapter of Veterans for Peace, now has the support of multiple groups. It states in part that "council desires a lasting bilateral ceasefire, release of all hostages, and unrestricted humanitarian aid."

Veterans for Peace Chapter 104 associate member John O’Leary spoke to council in March, asking that the resolution be sponsored and passed. He’s also advocated for community support of the resolution during multiple anti-war demonstrations.

He wasn’t aware that comment on the proposed resolution would no longer be heard when the Courier & Press reached out to the organization on Tuesday morning.

"I was not at the meeting and was unaware of council’s decision. If what you say is true, I take it to mean that council would rather limit the freedom of people to speak than hear uncomfortable truths," O’Leary said. "This is sad and disappointing. We expect our leaders to listen, not stifle."

The Courier & Press also reached out to Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry, who sent comment via her office spokesman.

"I appreciate the passion that residents feel about this issue, and I understand their disappointment in not having an opportunity to speak at last night’s City Council meeting. I also understand that the proposed resolution that many commented on at last week’s meeting was not part of yesterday’s agenda," she said. "So while I definitely can understand and identify with both sides of the situation, it was within the (city council’s) authority to continue with the posted agenda rather than re-open that discussion."

Why did the majority of council support closing comment?

As council president, Heronemus solely made and announced the decision to no longer allow public comment on the ceasefire resolution. Ultimately, his decision was backed by five other members of the city council when a motion was made to override his decision and let the public speak.

Two Democratic at-large members of council, Mary Allen and Courtney Johnson, voted in favor of allowing comment. Both are willing to sponsor the resolution to bring it forward for a vote, but resolutions now need three sponsors to make it onto an agenda. Republican Fifth Ward councilor Angela Koehler Lindsey also voted to allow the public to speak.

The Courier & Press reached out to each counselor who voted to not allow public comment. Democratic members Paul Green, At-Large; and Jim Brinkmeyer, Sixth Ward; did not reply.

Democratic First Ward councilor Ben Trockman said council has heard “passionate” discussion on the resolution for five meetings.

“That discussion has failed to convince the required three sponsors to bring the resolution to a vote,” he said. “As an elected body, it was time for us to move past public comment on this topic and on to other important city-related business."

Alex Burton, D-Fourth Ward, had a similar statement on the issue, noting the lack of sponsors for the resolution and the “past five meetings.”

“What is happening is incredibly unfortunate. My time and energy as a city councilman is dedicated to addressing issues and/or concerns and proposing policy that directly impacts those that I represent,” he said. “My aim is to continue with a focus on building a stronger urban core, advocate for more housing, and address the concerns of my neighbors in the Fourth Ward. Weighing in on international affairs, no matter how troubling is not what I was elected to do."

Missy Mosby, D-Second Ward, said she fully supports Heronemus' decision. She also brought up the lack of sponsors in place for the resolution.

"Furthermore, after bringing this proposed resolution up at several Second Ward neighborhood association meetings, as well as speaking with various other constituents, I feel that there is not enough support in favor of this resolution from the public I represent," she said. "I base this upon the fact that the majority of those who I spoke with feel that our council should focus on issues related to the governance of the City of Evansville, Indiana and not involve ourselves with international ones, for which we have no elected power to change."

Group says city council decision 'feeds into the suppression of speech'

One of the groups supporting the resolution is the Evansville-based Palestine Solidarity Coalition of Southern Indiana.

In a news release sent Wednesday, the group stated the decision made by city council “feeds into the suppression of speech being experienced in many other parts of the country on this very issue, and it is vital to voice our deep concerns about this matter.”

“This ceasefire resolution for Evansville City Council is symbolic and calls for an end to the killing and the release of hostages on both sides. It speaks to the local Muslim, Palestinian, and Jewish communities that their grief and struggle are recognized and matter to the city council,” the release states.

The group relates the ceasefire resolution to others passed on large, national issues, such as the LGBTQ-focused Pride Month resolution and the resolution that recognized racism as a community health issue.

“All we have asked is the same for our Arab, Muslim and Jewish communities,” the release states.

More than 70 U.S. cities have passed ceasefire resolutions, with Bloomington, Indiana, doing so earlier this month, later overriding a veto from its mayor.

“As local elected officials, there is the power to be the voice for your community concerns,” the news release states. “By passing a resolution alongside numerous other cities across the U.S., we strengthen the collective call of humanity.”

The news release ends with a request for council to sponsor and approve the resolution.

“Violence that impacts our communities worldwide will always impact us at home. While prioritizing the safety of those directly affected is crucial, we urge the City Council to not overlook the experiences of its constituents,” the release states. “We also implore this City council to uphold its commitment to fostering trust and accountability by taking the right course of action. Advocating for a permanent ceasefire aligns with these values.”

Evansville City Council changed sponsor rule in 2021

In its release, the Palestine Solidarity Coalition of Southern Indiana thanked Allen and Johnson for their willingness to support the resolution.

Until September 2021, only two sponsors would have been needed to bring a resolution up for a vote.

The requirement of three sponsors was voted for in a 7-2 vote by a past version of the city council. The councilors still on the board are Mosby, Burton, Heronemus, Trockman and Brinkmeyer. All of them voted in favor of the ordinance. Current councilors who weren’t on council at the time are Allen, Green, Koehler Lindsey and Johnson.

Then-councilor Justin Elpers, now a Vanderburgh County Commissioner, said he disagreed with the proposed ordinance and called it an attempt to silence the minority view on council.

“This room is a room to discuss ideas, all kinds of ideas,” he said. “If council votes on this and agrees to it then you’re crushing the potential of new ideas. You’re limiting the public discourse.”

Elpers said he was also worried about a snowball effect. He said the council could decide it is tired of public comment and vote to change the three-minute time limit or take away the platform completely.

At that time, Heronemus said the proposed change was a trigger for more bipartisanship.

“You can, as a councilor, sponsor something you wholly disagree with to allow a conversation to come forward," he said. "That’s where as a body working collectively together we can accomplish anything, even bringing forth things that might not be popular.”

This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Evansville City Council bans comment in meetings on Gaza resolution