Legal Definitions - disturbance of a public meeting

A disturbance of a public meeting refers to any unlawful action that significantly interferes with or disrupts the orderly conduct and purpose of a public gathering. This includes behavior that prevents the meeting from proceeding as intended, agitates attendees, or diverts the assembly from its stated objectives. The key is that the interference is contrary to the expected conduct for that type of public event and is not a legitimate exercise of free speech or protest that respects the meeting's ability to continue.

Here are some examples illustrating this concept:

• Example 1: Political Rally Disruption

  During a mayoral candidate's speech at a public park, an individual repeatedly blows an air horn directly in front of the stage, making it impossible for the audience to hear the speaker and forcing the candidate to stop speaking multiple times.

  This illustrates a disturbance because the individual's actions (blowing an air horn) are an unlawful interference, directly preventing the public assembly (the speech) from proceeding as intended and disrupting the audience's ability to participate.

• Example 2: School Board Meeting Chaos

  At a public school board meeting discussing budget cuts, a group of parents continuously stands up, shouts over the board members, and throws paper airplanes, causing the meeting to be repeatedly paused and ultimately adjourned early without resolving the agenda items.

  This demonstrates a disturbance because the parents' actions (shouting, throwing objects, causing pauses) unlawfully hinder the meeting's progress and divert it from its purpose of discussing and deciding on budget matters. Their conduct goes beyond expressing dissent and actively prevents the assembly from functioning.

• Example 3: Community Town Hall Interruption

  During a town hall meeting organized by local government officials to discuss a new zoning proposal, an individual repeatedly plays loud, offensive music from a portable speaker, despite requests to stop, making it impossible for residents to hear the presentations or ask questions.

  This is a disturbance because the individual's deliberate act of playing loud, offensive music unlawfully interferes with the orderly proceedings of the public assembly. It prevents attendees from engaging with the information, asking questions, and participating in the discussion, thereby disrupting the meeting's intended purpose.