Churchill and pals defend city employee

Longmont probing whether call was made on work time

By Felix Doligosa Jr., Rocky Mountain News
April 13, 2005

LONGMONT - Ward Churchill had a threat for the Longmont City Council if the city fires his friend, city employee Glenn Spagnuolo.

"If they don't stand down, I might move to Longmont and they will have to deal with me every day," Churchill said. "I might start a hippie community."

The University of Colorado professor and more than 50 people packed the Longmont Civic Center Tuesday to support Spagnuolo in a battle over free speech. Local groups also showed up to protest a proposal that would have restricted city parades and protests.

The city is investigating whether Spagnuolo used a work cell phone, and if he used it during business hours, to defend Churchill on a radio talk show last month, according to Longmont officials.

Spagnuolo told talk-show hosts Dan Caplis and Craig Silverman of 630-KHOW that some of Churchill's remarks can be interpreted as calls for peaceful change.

When asked about his opinions on violence or attacks on police, Spagnuolo told the radio station he preferred peaceful change, but did not rule out violence.

"If you really read Churchill's 9/11 essay, instead of paraphrasing it, his words would end up saving this country," said Spagnuolo.

Spagnuolo, who works as a youth program manager for the Longmont recreation department, was suspended April 1 for a day as officials investigated his work cell phone use.

Spagnuolo said his freedom to make comments defending Churchill is the real issue behind the investigation. He said the call was made after work and he always reimburses the city for personal calls on his cell phone.

"It's not whether it's popular or not, it's the beauty of the Constitution," Spagnuolo said. "It doesn't matter what I said, but that I said it.

"I think more people feel empowered with the Churchill situation. They tried to silence an intelligent man. I'm afraid to see the next person silenced."

Pavlos Stauropoulos said it is essential to have people like Spagnuolo in Longmont.

"If he was talking about mother's recipes, we wouldn't be here," he said. "He was on the radio talking about stuff that makes us uncomfortable. He engages us in debate and dialogue."

Spagnuolo has worked for the city for 71/2 years and has been named exceptional employee twice. He remains on the job during the investigation.

Spagnuolo said the investigation is unfair, as two cars follow him during the day and take watch outside his house late into the night. The city declined to comment on the investigation.

"We're not in a communist Russia where the KGB follows you around," he said. "I don't always agree with my country, but I love my country."

Many of Spagnuolo's fellow activists were relieved when the City Council voted 7-1 against a proposal that would have required permits for parades and protests.

"It is no coincidence we are all here," said Rick Fitzgerald of the Longmont Citizens for Justice and Democracy. "We're all a community with common interests. We are the new left."

Spagnuolo has worked on several local causes such as changing the name of Chivington Drive and opposing the construction of a Wal-Mart Supercenter in the city.

Spagnuolo also protested with Churchill against the Denver Columbus Day parade in the past.

Churchill had a last bit of advice to the council on where to go if it wanted to keep restrictions on free speech.

"I suggest North Korea," he said.

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Last updated on April 28, 2005