On Tuesday night, four people called into the Walnut Creek City Council to talk about antisemitic propaganda and First Amendment rights.
The comments come in response to a December 5 meeting where Councilmember Kevin Wilk announced the Bay Area Network of Jewish Officials (BANJO) — a group of about 50 elected officials who joined together after a rise in antisemitism.
It was during the Oct 11 council meeting where Wilk called out “awful, vile leaflets” that appeared in Walnut Creek.
The antisemitic flyers appeared in a neighborhood in Walnut Creek along the Concord border during the Jewish High Holidays in Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The flyer stated “every aspect of the Ukraine-Russia War is Jewish” among other statements.
On Tuesday, a caller named Scottie of Walnut Creek was the first of four callers:
“I am calling today to address some irrational statements made by certain councilmembers, you know who they are, regarding the pro white banners that they cried about on the next probably about six-months back. I was just wondering why its not okay to be pro white but if you are a Jew or a black its applauded. It seems that every time whites express love for their people some jew wants to shut it down,” stated Scottie.
At that point, Mayor Silva requested the speaker be respectful. He continued.
“We don’t have an issue of white supremacy like you guys like to push in your Jewish media narratives, we have an overwhelming issue of Jewish supremacy that is becoming more clear daily, even to non-whites (Note – council directed to shut it down). You guys’ cry about antisemitism,”
Scottie was then cut off by the city council.
The next caller spoke urging the council to stop shutting down speech that they don’t agree with.
“I was calling to speak about the bias within the media and the council referring to the constant white supremacy issues we have within this district. No one is willing to address the fact that there is another group of people who are clearly shutting everyone else down that they don’t agree with. I just find a lot of hypocrisy within this council that they do not allow speech to be said that they don’t agree with but according to the Brown Act and the First Amendment that speeches we don’t agree with and I find it abhorrent that you are shutting down people you don’t agree with. No one is even using vulgarity or profanity. Just because you don’t agree with what people have to say doesn’t mean they don’t have the right to speak. So what I was calling about was the fact you guys need to respect peoples First Amendment, allow people to finish what they have to say and stop shutting it down. Its rude and it’s a violation of our First Amendment and a violation of the Brown Act. When someone says something you don’t agree with, it doesn’t mean that it is wrong, or racist or bigoted, people have the right to speak and I think its sad that this council doesn’t allow for other people to have an opinion for which doesn’t suit you guys have. You have created an entire group called BANJO, you have a bunch of Jewish Supremacist that are shutting down anybody who doesn’t agree with them and its sad. I really hope you guys reflect and realize there is no such thing as hate speech, there is only speech that you do not like. Its okay to be pro white and its okay to be pro whatever you are and I think you guys need to really understand there is nothing wrong with being pro who you are because no one chose what race they were born, no one chose who they are, you guys say it all the time. So I just hope you as councilmembers realize this and respect peoples First Amendment from here on out and stop shutting it down like you always do.”
A third speaker named Ryan called in an attempt to promote his website while calling himself a real journalist.
“I agree with Jeff on that. The First Amendment has no exceptions for hate speech. The Supreme court ruled in Matal vs Tam in 2017 and what the council just did is a First Amendment Violation and you could be sued for that,” stated Alexander. “My name is Ryan —, I am a real journalist, and I am not a whore of the owners of the media, I am not paid to spread lies. For those who still have television, listen to the radio, read newspapers, and believe social media and schools are telling you the truth, I am afraid you are sadly deceived and must unlearn what you have learned. My website is (withholding address). If you read that for two hours, you will receive more truth than you did in 12-years in public schools as far as history is concerned. We have a very important issue to discuss, there are no exceptions as mentioned for hate speech so it is very troubling that we have members of America who think they can silence criticism of their religion by yelling and shouting about hate speech and antisemitism. Every religion in America can be criticized and if you don’t like criticism move to communist China where you are not allowed to criticize the government or other entities. The only people who are angry at you for telling the truth are those who living a lie and unfortunately every single democrat elected official is living a lie. And the Republicans are controlled as well. America is never voting our way out of this. The sooner we recognize that, the better off we will be. Lastly, lets discuss Memorial Day, Americas Founders were very clear, we should not have a standing military. The worst year in American History was 1913 when we got the Federal Reserve, the Income Tax and direct election of senators. The next year the bankers initiated World War I and in 1917 America was forced into it with the Lusitania incident. Right afterwards, Americas standing military was created and it was supposed to be temporary along with the income tax, however, we are over 100 years later and there is no sign that the income tax and military are going away anytime soon.
Councilmember Kevin Wilk
Prior to the next public comment, Councilmember Kevin Wilk asked the attorney to define public comment at a city council meeting what they would not approve of in a public communication format.
The city attorney stated the Brown Act and First Amendment allow for a wide range of speech including speech that is critical of the government. If speakers engage when being asked not, in hateful speech, in obscenities or threatening speech then the council has a limited ability to cut off that conversation.
He continued that speakers are allowed to express their views in open forum under public comments and that speech is sometimes is unacceptable to a lot of people but it isn’t illegal—but noted the one speaker who had his time limited had been admonished by the mayor and continued down a path that was inappropriate. But the council should generally allow the public to speak even if they are being critical or opinions other people may disagree with.
A fourth and final speaker also spoke.
“I had a statement prepared but I just realized your Jewish councilmember would have it shut down.” Stated the caller before urging the council and public to go visit a website (withholding website address).
During Councilmember reports, Wilk shared he participated the Clayton Pride Parade and was happy to represent Walnut creek.
“Unfortunately as we heard in public comments, there are hate speech that our out there. No we don’t like it and we will allow it to be said, but this hate doesn’t stop at antisemitism as anybody that is in any kind of ethnic or LGBTQ or variety of minorities they know that hate speech will just move from one group to another to another,” stated Wilk. “So I am more than proud to be able to show up and represent Walnut Creek in a pride parade in Clayton or anywhere else where anybody has some sort of ceremony about representing their groups.”
Hat tip to Claycord who first reported the public comments
