At our City Council meeting last Tuesday evening, a member of the public made an antisemitic comment during general public comments. Like many in the room, we were shocked and deeply disturbed by what was said.
We want to be unequivocal: antisemitism – and hatred in any form – has no place in Santa Monica. We condemn it fully, and without reservation.
Some have asked why we did not interrupt or respond in the moment. That question is understandable, and it deserves a clear answer.
City Council meetings are governed by long-standing constitutional principles that protect even deeply offensive speech during designated public-comment periods. Under the First Amendment, cities are required to allow members of the public to express their views – including views that are hateful or repugnant – so long as the speech does not involve true threats, incitement to imminent violence, or disruption of the meeting itself. Courts have repeatedly held that government officials may not cut off or punish speech simply because it is offensive or because officials strongly disagree with it.
As elected officials, we take an oath to uphold the Constitution. That oath sometimes requires restraint, even when words spoken are painful, offensive, or just plain morally wrong. Interjecting during public comment to condemn a speaker’s viewpoint can expose cities to legal risk and, paradoxically, can elevate exactly the kind of provocation many such speakers seek.
But restraint in the moment does not mean silence in principle.
We reject the idea that defending free speech requires tolerating hate. Our commitment to constitutional protections exists alongside – and not in conflict with –our commitment to stand against all forms of bigotry.
We can simultaneously believe deeply in free expression, while also naming and calling out hate for what it is.
We are actively working with City staff to better clarify for the public the rules governing public comment, including when speakers may be removed for actual disruption or threats, and how the City can more clearly reaffirm its values without infringing on constitutional rights.
Santa Monica is a city built on inclusion, dignity, and mutual respect. Hate speech wounds communities, even when it is legally protected. We will continue to speak out against it, to support those targeted by it, and to uphold both our values and the Constitution we are sworn to defend.
Mayor Caroline Torosis
Councilmember Ellis Raskin
Councilmember Natalya Zernitskaya
City of Santa Monica