Ban on banners, signs and flags in City Hall chambers proposed

Paul Feely, The New Hampshire Union Leader, Manchester
·2 min read

Mar. 20—Manchester aldermen have sent a proposed ban on flags, banners and signs displayed in the aldermanic chambers at City Hall to committee for further review, saying the items are potential security concerns.

The motion to change to the Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BMA) rules was made by board chairman Joe Kelly Levasseur, after pro-Palestinian activists again spoke out during the public comment portion of this week's BMA meeting, demanding aldermen take a vote on a cease-fire resolution.

Toward the end of Tuesday's meeting, Levasseur made a motion under 'New Business' that Rule 3 of the board's rules be amended immediately to "prohibit the use of banners, flags or signs or other items which may create a security concern or obstruct the view of other members of the public or public access to meetings" within the aldermanic chambers.

Levasseur was interrupted while making the motion by at least one protester yelling, with Mayor Jay Ruais asking the person to stop.

"Enough, stop," Ruais said. "You had your opportunity to speak earlier. We've been inordinately polite."

Protestors have been observed hanging pro-Palestinian banners over the second-floor railing and holding signs in the audience at recent BMA meetings at City Hall.

Alderman Bill Barry said he wasn't in favor of simply banning signs.

"I'm fine if it's obstructing someone else's view," Barry said. "So if someone's standing up in the front row and holding a big banner or flag or whatever, and other people in the audience are trying to pay attention to what's going on."

Alderman Tony Sapienza said there haven't been any security concerns in the chambers, and if any arise board members can deal with them at that time.

"I think this is a solution looking for a problem," he said.

Alderman Christine Fajardo called such a ban a "slippery slope."

"I respect security, and I think we're naive in this day and age to imagine that something terrible won't happen here," Fajardo said. "I really hope it doesn't but there's a balance. If we're being mindful about specifically only preventing something that obstructs a view, I would be in favor of that, but not this blanket ban."

A motion to immediately amend Rule 3 failed on a 5-7 vote, with Levasseur, Ed Sapienza, Norm Vincent, Chris Morgan and Crissy Kantor in favor. Pat Long and Kelly Thomas abstained because it was brought up under new business.

A motion to send it to the aldermanic Committee on Administration and Information Systems passed on a 9-5 vote, with Fajardo, Barry, Tony Sapienza, Dan O'Neil, and Jim Burkush opposed.