Arizona Woman Arrested for Exercising First Amendment Rights, Criticizing Public Official
Rebekah Massie was taken into custody on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, after she allegedly transgressed public comment regulations during a Surprise City Council meeting. Massie was discussing the employment contract of City Attorney Robert Wingo—whom she accused of displaying “blatant disregard” for the Arizona State Constitution and revised statutes, the Bill of Rights, and the state bar’s rules of professional conduct.
Surprise Mayor Skip Hall stopped Massie and delivered the following warning: I interrupted you because…this is the public meeting form that you agree to when you speak…[O]ral communications during the city council meeting may not be used to lodge charges or complaints against any employee of the city or members of the body.
A back-and-forth ensued between Massie and Mayor Hall who eventually demanded that she, “Stop talking!”
By engaging in the debate, Mayor Hall not only infringed upon Massie’s freedom of speech; he also broke Arizona’s Open Meeting Law. When Massie further admonished Hall for violating her rights, Hall simply stated, “That’s your opinion.”
Massie was detained and escorted out of the room in front of her 10-year-old daughter. She was later cited for trespassing.
On August 26, The Center Square reported that the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (F.I.R.E.) filed a lawsuit against the city of Surprise on behalf of Massie. The announcement was corroborated by Massie’s social media post on the same day.
As of publication, several citizens have donated over $5,500 to Massie’s Give Send Go campaign.
