Pinellas County Commissioners Remove Speaker Playing Audio at Meeting
A deputy led a woman out of the chamber after she played a recording during the public comment period on Wednesday.
By Kaito Shevchenko ·
The Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners met on Wednesday to hear from residents. A disruption occurred when a speaker used audio instead of words.
A woman wearing a full black burka approached the podium. Only her left eye was visible as she began a public comment. Instead of speaking, she activated a recording of the Islamic call to prayer.
Board Chairman Dave Eggers stopped the audio after it played for nearly a minute. He cited county rules that require verbal statements from public speakers. "Ma’am, you’re going to have to stop … stop the music, stop the tape," he said.
When the woman did not stop the recording, a Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office deputy intervened. The officer escorted her from the podium, out of the meeting room, and through the building exit. The sheriff’s office later confirmed she left without further incident and would not face criminal charges.
Audience members reacted quickly to her removal. Several people shouted and argued with Eggers about the decision. He asked the crowd for patience and reminded them of the specific rules governing the session. "We don’t allow taped things," he explained. "We ask you to come here and make comments, and that was not a comment."
It was not immediately clear if the gesture was a planned protest or a spontaneous act. The board continued its meeting after the woman’s departure.
Source: Fox News
