Protesters calling on city councillors in Surrey, British Columbia, to ask for a ceasefire in Gaza have instead triggered a series of security changes that include the temporary end of all in-person attendance at council meetings by members of the public.

Mayor Brenda Locke told Monday香蕉视频直播檚 council meeting that the decision to restrict public access had been made because of security concerns about protests that have been disrupting meetings since December, by demonstrators she said had 香蕉视频直播渙ccupied香蕉视频直播� council chambers.

香蕉视频直播淩eluctantly, we have had to take this step to move the public outside of the gallery in order to ensure the business of the city continues,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Council passed a motion on Monday to allow members of the public to attend and participate in meetings electronically, starting at the next meeting on April 8.

Locke told the meeting that registered members of the public could speak on items on the agenda, and additional safety measures had been put in place, including a police presence.

She said all council members respect the right to protest, but that does not extend to 香蕉视频直播渂lockading lawful activities.香蕉视频直播�

Coun. Linda Annis said the protests began late last year. She said the mayor later read a statement saying there was no room for Islamophobia and antisemitism anywhere in the world.

香蕉视频直播淭hat was not well received by protesters. They were looking for her to make a statement to ask for a ceasefire,香蕉视频直播� Annis said in an interview Tuesday.

香蕉视频直播淎t a couple of meetings we had to move from the council chambers into another room because the protesters had actually taken over the council chambers.香蕉视频直播�

On a livestream of a Jan. 15 meeting, protesters could be heard chanting inside council chambers. A recess was quickly taken and the meeting was moved to another room.

Annis said this type of disruption had become commonplace.

香蕉视频直播淭ypically a speaker would come up and speak to the issue in Gaza and then they would start to chant,香蕉视频直播� she said.

She said city hall had been 香蕉视频直播渦nder lockdown香蕉视频直播� during meetings and the public would be brought in one by one to speak on issues. Several protesters would sign up to speak to a specific bylaw, but would then pivot to Gaza, she said.

The decision to allow people to attend virtually was made because council noticed a decrease in members of the public weighing in on agenda matters, Annis said.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 to encourage people that maybe weren香蕉视频直播檛 comfortable to come to city hall under those circumstances, which is very unfortunate, the opportunity to be able to speak to the various bylaws.香蕉视频直播�

She said she didn香蕉视频直播檛 know how long in-person attendance would be halted.

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