Controversy Grows over Historical Board Appointments

 

On December 15th, the Florence City Council will make three appointments to the historical board. One of the current board members has provoked quite a bit of controversy, with many contacting our blog or publishing their thoughts on Facebook.

Pictured below is Brian W. Murphy, a local historian, but more importantly a City of Florence employee:

You will note that the 35 year-old Murphy, a PSS board member and protester, is dressed identically to a counter-protester at the far right. This obviously took some planning. We've been told that Murphy was using performance art in order to shame this counter-protester. Our first thought is that neither side should have used public protest as a means to achieve its goals. Our second thought is that, no matter how inane anyone may have found the counter-protester, a city employee shouldn't have publicly ridiculed a citizen who helps pay his salary.

In early November, Project Say Something's demonstrators moved from the courthouse to Florence City Hall. At this point, Murphy was actively protesting his employer. How many of you would feel secure in doing that?

We have no idea if the city council will reappoint Murphy as chair of the historical board or not. We can definitely say that after the events of the past few months, Brian Murphy is carrying a great deal of political baggage. Do you think he is representative of the city?