The city of Newberry has sent a cease-and-desist letter to a resident who raised concerns during public comment about the city’s involvement with the conversion of Newberry Elementary School into a charter school.
Her attorney has since responded, saying it’s her constitutional right to criticize her local government if she chooses and should be free of retaliation.
The issue has set up a debate over the First Amendment rights in what is an ongoing debate over Newberry’s controversial takeover of the local elementary school.
“Your demand on behalf of the City of Newberry is more than a little puzzling … no citizen has ever been lawfully penalized for criticizing our government — even if those comments consist of nothing but lies and calumny,” wrote free speech attorney Gary Edinger.
On Sept. 12, the city of Newberry’s attorney, Scott Walker of Folds Walker LLC, the same firm that represents the GRU Authority, threatened legal action against Brandy Oldman, whom the city has accused of making “slanderous and defamatory remarks” during public comment at the Aug. 26 City Commission meeting.