According to this story from Melanie Graham at Newton Patch, Newton resident Adam Maleson, 53, was arrested for disturbing the peace at Mayor Warren’s Town Hall meeting Sunday night in Nonantum. The Town Hall was one in a succession of meetings to explain the mayor’s proposed overrides.
Angry Newton man arrested at override Town Hall
by Nathan Phillips | Jan 29, 2013 | Override | 27 comments
“Disturbing the Peace” at a “Town Hall Meeting”? I sure hope the eyewitness accounts indicate he made some type of threat, or took some sort of threatening action. Because without a threat or attempted act of violence, this sounds very close to a violation of his First Amendment rights. I wasn’t there, so I don’t know what happened. But I will not support any cause for any purpose that suppresses the opposition’s freedom of speech. I would really like to hear exactly what happened from those who were in attendance.
@Mike,
I’m wondering if you read the story. I think that picking up a chair and then slamming it down followed by charging toward the front of the auditorium could be perceived as threatening.
In the comments below the Newton Patch story, Adam Maleson disputes the details in the police report and said that he was sitting next to a Tab reporter who could confirm his version of what happened. He also said there was a Tab photographer in the room.
The Tab put a story about the incident on their site an hour ago but the details in that story don’t seem to be at odds with what the Patch reported.
@Whole Truth– Of course I read the story. I also read Mr. Maleson’s comments on the Patch blog. I’m just interested in hearing the “whole truth.” I assume you are as well.
Angry Newton! But I kid…
Seriously though, Adam Maleson’s attorney needs to confiscate his keyboard.
The TAB’s story is written off the police report. The reporter, Trevor Jones, reported what witnesses said, not what he himself saw, which means it was highly unlikely there was a TAB reporter sitting next to Mr. Maleson. If there were, I would think the story would have broken earlier.
I was at the Town Hall event, and this was indeed a threatening incident that the Newton police handled in a most professional manner. The presentation proceeded calmly after the incident.
@Jane– Thanks for the first-hand account. End of story, as far as I’m concerned. Freedom of speech is one thing. Threats of any kind are entirely inappropriate.
@Mike,
I am always in favor of getting “the whole truth.” I am not in favor of people making comments that are not based in fact. Regardless of how Mr.Maleson felt about how the deck was, in his opinion, stacked against him, there is no excuse for yelling, disrupting the speakers, picking up a chair and throwing it to the ground and then rushing toward the front of the room. These acts are not only rude and disrespectful, but clearly threatening in nature. Mr.Maleson is certainly entitled to his opinion and to be able to express it. He is not entitled to disrupt the event and place people in fear by his aggressive actions.
@Gail — You’re right, the TAB wasn’t at the meeting. I think Mr. Maleson may have mistaken the Globe reporter and photographer for TAB staffers.
@Whole Truth– Now that we have a first-hand account, I completely agree. It’s clear Maleson crossed the line.
I actually know Adam. I find this against his nature, but who knows.
Boston Globe account: http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/newton/2013/01/mans_outburst_at_a_newton_over.html
Here’s the only reference between Maleson and a chair:”before charging to the front, pushing aside a chair that was in his way. ”
He pushed aside a chair not what was reported in the police report: “After responding to the scene, police were in the lobby of the gym when they reportedly heard yelling again, and then spotted Maleson grab his chair, pick it up and “hold it in a threatening manner.”
I have to say, I am pretty irked that my friend and editor was accused by Mr. Maleson of liable/slander for simply doing her duty as a journalist in citing the police report of an event that occurred at a public gathering. His (over)reaction to her story lost from me ANY sympathy I may have had for him and, frankly, has caused me to be somewhat more questioning of the opponents to the override than I might have been otherwise. A man is known by the company he keeps, and vice versa.
@Tom – how do you know which account is correct?
MGWA, the first quote was an eye witness account of what happened from the Globe. The second was taken from the police report. You choose which one to believe, I personally believe the Globe.
Tom – I’m agnostic about which to believe until I’ve heard from a 3rd party who was there. And I completely agree with Wendy – threatening someone with a defamation of character lawsuit for quoting a police report is not the way to win sympathy.
While Mr. Maleson certainly doesn’t help his own credibility with threats of defamation of character, Tom has a good point. An eyewitness account from a Globe reporter is pretty telling.
However, one always has to keep in mind the different perspectives in situations like this. The Globe reporter probably witnessed the situation from the back of the room. What can look like an angry person kicking a chair out of the way from the back of the room, can look like an angry person pushing a chair in a hostile manner to the person being approached.
I was very close to this individual as he pushed forward from the last row, through two other rows of chairs into the area where the presentation was taking place. He didn’t push the chair aside – he pushed it forward into the area where presenters were sitting. He was just feet away from the superintendent, fire and police chief, and mayor when the police stopped him.
@Wendy Schapiro: Are you trying to say that you were against the budget overrides, but based on Adam Maleson’s behavior you’re now in favor of the overrides? 😉
dulles- Hahaha! To be totally honest, I haven’t looked into it too closely as a) I am not a homeowner in Newton (I rent) and b) I am moving to CA in the late Spring so it won’t actually have an effect on me. But I will say that even looking at the issue from the outside, I have a less positive opinion of those who would align themselves with someone who would behave in the way the gentleman (and I use the term very loosely) in question did and who has continued to lambast my editor and the publication for which I work.
I am very much in favor of people on both sides of this issue (or, really, any issue) passionately and emphatically stating their points of view – as long as they are cognizant of the fact that the other side has a right to its opinion and as long as they state said PoV with respect for others who may hold a dissenting viewpoint. The minute someone starts thinking that s/he is SO very right that s/he can treat others with a lack of respect or decorum, as far as I am concerned s/he loses the privilege of being heard… and should be relegated to the comments section of the Herald 😉
LOL, that’s a wise answer Wendy!
There’s a Newton Taxpayers Association web site that’s still on the Internet from the last override, if anyone is willing to pick up that banner.
I think this person has disrupted School Committee meetings in the past.
I was seated in the back row, and the next person to me was apparently a reporter, taking shorthand, who I had presumed was a writer for the TAB, but seems likely was actually from the Boston Globe instead, and there was also a photographer, presumably also from the Globe, who must have taken still photos of my actions, as well as the actions of the police officer twisting my arm behind my back.
Now I need to engage myself a lawyer who can hopefully subpoena eyewitnesses from the room, as well as the notes of the reporter and the photos from the photographer to corroborate my version of what actuall;y happened there.
p.s. excuse a few typos in the first comment I posted. I am not illiterate but I do occasionally make typos and try to correct them if possible.
A comment has been removed in from this thread due to personal attacks. The author is invited to try again.
It wasn’t my comment that was removed, but I’d like to add this…
@Adam– There is no one, and I mean NO ONE who cares more about your First Amendment rights than me. I have a long history of defending other people’s First Amendment rights on Newton’s blogs. And my initial response to the Town Meeting incident was to come to your defense. But the turning point for me, was that others in attendance commented they felt threatened by your actions. Personally, I believe vigorous, passionate, in-your-face debate, comes with the territory of representative government. And anyone who is not prepared to be shouted at on occasion in a public forum, would be well served to avoid public office. So if you wanted to stand up and shout at the top of your lungs, I would support your right to do so, even if I didn’t agree with what you were saying. But when your actions cause others who I know to be reasonable people, to feel their safety is threatened, that’s where you lose my support.