If government could “freak dance,” it would probably look like a Cincinnati City Council meeting.

        Kids on field trips to City Hall hear trash talk, racism, anti-Semitism and lunatic ravings about the “murdering police” and “white devils.”

        Tourists who stumble onto a council meeting on their hotel TV must wonder if they landed in some third-world mobocracy — Iran with rain.

        CEOs take one look at a council meeting and burn rubber leaving town for a saner place to make widgets — like Chechnya.

        If you think I exaggerate, tune in the circus on TV, order a video or
go in person — but take some Dramamine. The parliament of race hustlers and professional protesters can induce nausea.

        A handful of “regulars” heckle speakers, boo council members and intimidate anyone they disagree with. The protest posse includes Abdul Mohammed Ali (“Jimmy Hardy for short,” according to City Clerk Sandy Sherman), “General Kabaka Oba of Special Forces,” Jackie Shropshire and William Kirkland, who was arrested at a May 23 meeting when he threatened the mayor.

        “He made a kind of move toward the podium, toward me,” Mayor Charlie Luken said. “He was screaming something I don't want to repeat, and I told him he couldn't say that.”

        Black council members Paul Booth, Minette Cooper and Alicia Reece sometimes side with the disruptions.

        When Councilman John Cranley summoned the courage to eject Mr. Shropshire from a meeting Monday, Mr. Booth criticized Mr. Cranley. But when things “went off a cliff” again Wednesday, it got so bad council voted 4-3 to adjourn to avoid hearing one more speaker mug for the cameras and demand “respect” while spouting insults.

        Mr. Booth has had enough. He says he's now ready to adopt strict standards. “All council members, including African Americans, agree the meetings are out of control.”

        Mr. Luken says he had tried to get tough, but gets no support on council. “I have asked for (help) time and again, and none them are interested in getting involved in this at all. At all.”

        “If anyone has any bright ideas, I'd be glad to hear them.”

        Here are some I collected:

        • Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Thomas Crush: “They have the authority to eject or arrest people for disorderly conduct. The First Amendment is not absolute. You can't yell fire in a crowded theater, and you can't make a nuisance of yourself to the point where you disrupt.”

        • Mr. Sherman, city clerk for 18 years: “It's like a toothache. It's not getting any better and the only way to remedy that is to pull 'em.

        “I would like to see (council) sit down and devote some time to how to conduct meetings and safety issues. This building is so open, there's so much access. Anyone could do almost anything.”

        • “Set reasonable boundaries and enforce them,” said Hamilton County Administrator David Krings. Attempts to disrupt county meetings have been squelched by quick ejections.

        • Councilman Tarbell said the mayor has five votes to get tough, and knows it. “Whether you have five votes or not, you have to lead,” he said. “It starts with Luken.”

        Mr. Luken says, “We need people to stand up and say publicly, black and white, that this destructive behavior represents no one and should not be condoned.”

        Good idea. But don't hold your breath. Instead, anyone who criticizes the mob will be ripped on talk radio. “I've been excoriated on the buzz (WDBZ),” Mr. Luken said.

        So have I. And I expect more of the same for this column. Nobody likes to be called “racist” for calling a yahoo a yahoo. But if something isn't done, mob-rule meetings could set off a riot.

        Oh, wait — that already happened on April 9.

        What more does it take?

        E-mail: pbronson@enquirer.com. Past columns at Enquirer.com/columns/bronson

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