But experts contend elected officials are not mandated to listen to comments they find offensive.
“I really don’t see a 1st Amendment problem,” said Gary Williams, a Loyola Law School professor and former president for the ACLU Southern California chapter. “People have a right to say whatever they want. They don’t have a right to insist that people sit there and listen to it.”
The incident began at last week’s afternoon council meetings, when Mohill’s remarks on the need for a soccer field in south Glendale offended council members.
“Armenians like soccer, right, Councilman Najarian?” Mohill said. “Hispanics like soccer, right, Mayor Quintero?”
Mohill returned Tuesday with a similar speech, stating his former voting habits to vote based on a candidate’s ethnicity.
At that point, Najarian cut him off, calling his statements disruptive, but Assistant City Atty. Mike Garcia said that as offensive as the remarks may have been, they were within Mohill’s 1st Amendment rights during the public comment period.
“I was overruled, but that doesn’t mean that I as an individual have to sit there and give him the audience for him to continue making those remarks,” Najarian said Friday. “It just so happens that another councilman agreed with me.”
Mohill defended his remarks, countering that council members used them as an excuse to cut him off.
“Mr. Najarian would rather have me and other ‘gadflies’ silenced than hear what we have to say,” he said Friday.
The latest episode was indicative of the ongoing tension between the City Council and frequent critics like Mohill, who often use their time at the podium to hurl accusations and criticism against the dais. Usually, council members sit dutifully and listen, but on Tuesday, they said, Mohill took it too far.
