By Pepper Fisher

PORT ANGELES – Tuesday’s Port Angeles City Council meeting was the target of hate speech by virtual participants who logged on using fake names.

Mayor Kate Dexter says it appears to have been a group of white supremacists, and seemed to have been related to the current conflict in the Middle East. Mayor Dexter described for us what happened.

“I don’t remember exactly the order of things, but we had, at one point, someone was unmuted or was able to be unmuted during one of the public hearings, and shouted out some really inappropriate words. And then, fast forward to public comment. I think one made it through with just really disturbing discussions. And then, another one ended with some, some hate speech, which is out of order, and therefore, is immediately muted.”

On Thursday, City officials issued a statement denouncing hate speech and saying, in part, “Our City embraces freedom of speech and respects diverse opinions. However, we draw a clear line when it comes to hate speech and discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, age, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Such behavior is not and will never be tolerated in Port Angeles.”

Dexter said she does not believe the callers were local. She said the bar is set very high for cutting people off in public comment, but she believes hate speech is never acceptable.

“I’m hoping that the community will join us in calling out hate speech when they hear it, and making sure that we do our best to make it clear to people that it’s not acceptable anywhere.”

You can read the full statement on the City’s website at cityofpa.us.