by Paul Bean 

Monday night’s Burlington City Council public forum took a couple of strange turns. 

A number of participants who “zoomed” into the meeting were suspected to be non-Burlington residents and possibly, as stated by city councilor Ben Traverse, an “anti-semetic organization.” 

“I have some sense here that the council is being ‘zoom-bombed’ so to speak, by an anti-semetic organization.” Said councilor Traverse. “I have reason to question whether or not the individuals speaking are actually Burlington residents.”

This comes at a time when religious tensions in Burlington are high following the shooting of three Palestinians on November 25.

One speaker said: “The far left that are environmental warriors, and the far right that are environmental warriors have more in common then it’s made out to seem. And national socialism and what it represents is actually a good answer, that where you can kick out the “k*ke usury that controls this world. GTV Flyers.com”

I looked up the website he proclaimed and it became clear to me that whoever the gentleman was, he was not a Burlington resident.

The next controversy came from someone who attended in person.

“Dear Allah, my dear beloved friend, does he know that you are about to let a lesbian woman become your next mayor? One that’s okay with children changing their gender? Does Allah know this?, ” said Burlington resident Keren Sita. “To my Jewish people I speak to you as a black woman with a Hebrew name.. do your Jewish mothers, and Rabbis know that you’re going to elect this woman?”

Sita then explained how she operates purely “out of love.” However in the end she was cut off by Council President Paul for verbally attacking one of the earlier speakers.

“This woman who just came in here and said she was so happy to be a transgender woman, ask her that at 2am in the morning when no one’s around, and with these cameras these people are good actors, and I know an Oscar award winning actor when…”

Just then Sita was cut off. She replied, “so no freedom of speech?”

Burlington Public forum is a place where many get their opportunity to share their idea, their opinion, or really just air out grievances.

Open discussion, free speech, and public forum is the hallmark of democracy. Letting all voices be heard, especially the one you mosy do not want to hear, is one of the main goals of the council. Yet some ask whether the council should feel compelled to allow non-Burlington residents to weigh in. Is there a responsibility to censor “hate speech?” How does one define “hate speech?”

The Burlington Daily News will continue coverage of the Burlington City Council public forums and the on-going discussion among Burlingtonians of all kinds.