Contact: fac@firstamendmentcoalition.org
The First Amendment Coalition is calling for immediate dismissal of charges against Victorville City Council Member Blanca Gomez, who was removed from the council’s meeting on February 21, 2023, arrested, and booked into jail. FAC Legal Director David Loy sent a letter to the city council, copied to the San Bernardino County District Attorney and others, explaining why the removal and arrest raise serious concerns under the First Amendment and Brown Act, which guarantee rights to freedom of speech and civic participation in local government. As the letter says, abuse of the power to remove and arrest an elected official or community member “threatens the fabric of democracy and open government.”