(CAMPUS REFORM) — Former community college professor Celeste Barber has sued the Santa Barbara City College Board of Trustees after a spring 2019 incident, in which she alleges that she was heckled during a public board meeting.
According to the complaint, filed by Dhillon Law Group, the SBCC Board of Trustees violated California’s Brown Act when it allowed a current professor to shout down Barber while she recited the Pledge of Allegiance, which at the time had been removed from meetings.
“The college had recently changed its policy of reciting the Pledge of Allegiance before the Board of Trustees meetings,” a press release by the Dhillon Group states. “Ms. Barber had applied to speak to the Trustees as to why they should return to the old policy of reciting the pledge. Throughout her comments, Professor Napoleon continually interrupted Barber’s prepared comments. Professor [Raeanne] Napoleon also encouraged others in the audience to also attempt to shout down Barber’s prepared comments.”
