Public comment at Boulder City Council’s March 20 meeting became disruptive on multiple occasions as speakers addressed the conflict in Israel and Gaza, prompting repeated recesses, removal of the public gallery, and a direct rebuke from council leadership.

Several speakers used the two-minute public-comment period to address international events in Gaza and Israel, calling for various municipal responses and criticizing elected officials. Some speakers held signs and spoke out of turn; officials repeatedly warned the gallery to comply with the city’s public-participation guidelines.

At one point the meeting was cleared and recessed after gallery participants ignored decorum rules and obstructed views with signs. When council returned, the mayor said the chambers had been cleared “because of repeated violations of our rules of decorum, including speaking out of turn in the gallery and holding up signs that obstruct the view of the gallery.” He added, “I wanted to say, although it was not why we cleared chambers, how unacceptable I consider it to call Jewish members of our city council,” condemning personal attacks on members’ identities.

Councilmember Mark (full name used in floor remarks) later addressed the chamber, saying participants who called Jewish council members “Nazis” were “closer to petulant children than to adults who disagree,” and that the insults would not deter him or his colleague Councilmember Tara Weiner.

Multiple speakers advocated for positions on Israel and Gaza; some presenters displayed graphic images and described personal reactions. The city’s public participation guidelines were read at the start of the meeting and include limits on conduct, signage, and decorum. Staff and security reminded attendees that signs must be held and not obscure views, that only one person speaks at a time and that profanity and abusive epithets are not allowed.

Why it matters: the disruptions interrupted council business, forced recesses, and raised questions about how the city enforces decorum during public meetings while protecting free expression. Council members asked staff to follow up on enforcement and process questions and several council members publicly criticized the conduct.

What’s next: staff and security will continue to enforce public-participation rules; council members asked for a follow-up on boards-and-commissions process issues and suggested further outreach about acceptable behavior during public hearings.