A Boulder woman who has repeatedly used city council open comment to condemn the war in Gaza and blame councilmembers for Israel’s actions has been charged after two confrontations, the city said Friday, Sept. 5.
Laura Gonzalez, 38, faces felony retaliation against a judge or elected official and misdemeanor harassment stemming from a Sept. 3 incident in the 1200 block of Canyon Blvd., where she allegedly shouted at Councilmember Matt Benjamin about recent votes and pushed a second person as they walked away, according to Boulder Police. She also faces misdemeanor harassment in a separate Aug. 21 incident in the 1700 block of Broadway, where a victim reported she used a megaphone to taunt and direct derogatory comments at her. Gonzalez was arrested Thursday night and booked into the Boulder County Jail. As in every criminal case, the charges are allegations and she is presumed innocent unless or until proven guilty.
Since late 2023, Gaza-related protests have dominated city council open comment, with speakers urging councilmembers to adopt a ceasefire resolution and divest from companies they say are profiting from Israel’s war in Gaza. At times, Gonzalez and others directed hate speech at Jewish councilmembers.
Following the June Molotov Cocktail attack on Pearl Street that targeted participants in the Run for Their Lives event and killed 82-year-old Karen Diamond, council approved new open comment rules as an emergency measure. The changes include: an earlier start time, 45-minute cap with priority for new speakers, audio-only broadcast and stronger moderation of hate speech. The rules also allow suspensions for disruptive behavior.
Records obtained by BRL show Gonzalez was suspended from council chambers on Aug. 15 for one year for violating rules of conduct. (Suspended speakers may still comment remotely.) More recently, at the Sept. 4 meeting, her remarks — made remotely — were cut off for profanity violations, and at an Aug. 26 Boulder Chamber city council candidate forum she was escorted out after repeated interruptions.