CLEVELAND — For the last several months, Pro-Palestinian protestors have flooded Cleveland City Council meetings, asking members to pass a ceasefire resolution amid the Israel-Hamas war.
Monday night, demonstrators were once again very vocal, which cut the meeting short.
During the meeting, as Council Clerk Patricia J. Britt was reading through items on the agenda, the crowd continued to chant loudly. Officials say they were able to make it through all of the legislation, but this is the first time they stopped early since the protests began in the fall, with introductions, announcements, and miscellaneous items left on the agenda.
Members with the Cleveland Palestine Advocacy Community say this is the 10th time they have asked Council to pass a ceasefire resolution, and they've gathered over 1,500 signatures pushing for it.
"We're frustrated because we're not heard," Jenna Muhieddie who spoke during public comment, told 3News. "We're frustrated because we don't feel seen, we're frustrated because our struggle is being invalidated time and time again."
Monday night, Council approved changes to the public comment rules. This comes amid an ongoing lawsuit where a Cleveland man claims his first amendment rights were violated when his mic was cut off as he was discussing political contributions during public comment.
Council President Blaine Griffin said the rules have been clarified for what is constitutionally protected.
"If anything, we've actually expanded the amount of things that people can talk about," Griffin said. "But we did put some of the things in place that we feel is necessary to have an orderly meeting that has decorum."
As chambers have been flooded with Palestine supporters since the Israel-Hamas war began in October, new rules also prohibit loud noises, yelling, handclapping, signs, posters, and banners, among other changes.
"We don't go into other people's meetings and we don't go into other organizations and totally disregard their rules and their decorum," Griffin declared. "So even though this is the people's house and everybody is welcome, we expect for people to abide by the rules that we put in place."
Muhieddie offered a measure response to the move.
"I am happy that they didn't completely ban public comment or put restriction on it," she said. "But it's very clear that they are referring to us when they say, 'No clapping, no cheering,' whatever, but there's been [different] instances like that before."
Per sources, city leaders and safety officials will likely meet to discuss how to address the disorder that caused Monday's meeting to end early, since that falls outside of the public comment rules. You can read those new guidelines below: