City Council’s Vote On New Noise Law Leads To 3 Arrests

CHARLOTTE, NC — Charlotte City Council vote on a new noise ordinance aimed at reigning in abortion clinic protesters Monday night led to a packed audience, protests and the arrest of three people after they rushed toward council members and jumped onto the dais.

The new noise ordinance bans the use of amplified speakers, such as bull horns and megaphones, within 150 feet of schools, churches or medical facilities. While the ordinance language did not specifically address abortion clinics, for many speaking out against it at the June 24 city council meeting it was “a referendum on demonstrations” outside area abortion clinics, the Charlotte Observer reported.

According to Charlotte mayor pro tem Julie Eiselt, more noise complaints are coming into the city from schools than medical facilities, such as abortion clinics, the newspaper said. So far this year, of the 9,700 noise complaints made to the City of Charlotte, 653 have been from schools, 483 from medical facilities and 57 from churches, she said.

Around 6:30 p.m., five protesters disrupted the proceedings, as two from the group climbed onto the council member dais and unfurled a banner that said that the city “silences women” and “amplifies misogyny,” the newspaper reported.

“The City Council immediately called a recess,” Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said in an incident report. “At that time the protesters were given multiple verbal warnings to stop their disruptive behavior. When they refused to do so, three of the individuals were arrested,” and charged with disruption of official meetings.

CMPD identified the three taken into custody as Landon Rice, 24; Julia McCarthy, 18; and Benson Crooks, 21. The remaining two protesters bolted from the building and were not apprehended, police said.

The ordinance was passed in a 8-3 vote.

You can read more about the Charlotte Observer’s report on the June 24 city council meeting here.