ELMIRA, N.Y. — Act Now Media’s Duane Whitmer was removed from tonight’s Elmira City Council meeting under the threat of immediate arrest. The removal came after a public comment where Whitmer labeled elected officials “thieves” and “criminals” for proposing a 12% tax increase.
Whitmer also raised the stakes by referencing the Alvarez vs. City of Elmira lawsuit (click here to see complaint), a move he believes triggered a retaliatory order from Mayor Daniel Mandell to have him cleared from the room.
Whitmer maintains the removal was a direct violation of his First Amendment rights intended to silence criticism of the city’s fiscal and legal record.
This is a developing story. A longer story and video analysis to follow.
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