The City-County Council in Indianapolis shot down a proposal from one of their own to ban signs from their dais that read “Hands up, don’t shoot,” the now nationally known phrase of the Ferguson protest movement.
The proposed ban came from Republican Councilman Jack Sandlin who watched with dismay as five of his fellow board members posted the provocative paper signs in front of their name placards on the dais, shortly after the Aug. 9 shooting, The Indianapolis Star reported. The signs included the slogan, along with a figure of a black man with his arms raised above his head.
Mr. Sandlin said to local media that he thought the public display on the board’s meeting spot was disrespectful to police and that he had fielded several complaints from those in the community who took offense.
But board members voted his proposal down, 20-8, The Indianapolis Star reported.
Democratic Councilman Monroe Gray — one of the board members who posted the sign by his name placard during an Aug. 18 council meeting — said the message wasn’t “any more offensive” than some of Mr. Sandlin’s previous votes, The Indianapolis Star reported.
Other council members said they failed to support Mr. Sandlin’s proposed ban out of free speech concerns.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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