Clapping and booing are banned during Spokane City Council meetings, so audience members sometimes stand silently to show support for speakers or turn their backs to show opposition. Council members banned the practice last week, arguing that it can be distracting and intimidating to other audience members. The new rule was immediately controversial, and on Monday, members of Spokane Community Against Racism threatened to sue the city of Spokane over the standing ban, arguing that it violates state law and the U.S. Constitution. Standing during public meetings, they argued, is a form of silent dissent and protected political speech. Natasha Hill, a Spokane attorney working on behalf of SCAR, wrote that there appears to be a “pattern by City Council of adopting rules attempting to suppress the speech of specific individuals or organizations and their viewpoints.” During Monday’s meeting, several activists stood silently, prompting the council to go into two five-minute recesses while they attempted to negotiate with the activists. Council members eventually voted to temporarily suspend the standing rule and revisit it later so the meeting could proceed. Citing disruption, council members also suspended Monday’s open public comment period. (NATE SANFORD)