[At about 35:28 into the October 30 meeting Elie Yarden was called to speak.]

Yarden: Good evening. I’m addressing the late order and Council order on foot patrols. I’ll speak as rapidly as I can. Especially in this election season it becomes difficult to distinguish from one another behaviors in Washington, the State House, or the Cambridge City Council chamber. One does not expect to find Bushisms such as the facts are what I say they are acceptable in a Council with a majority of five people endorsed by the Progressive Democrats of Cambridge. And one ...

[A woman’s voice is audible asking a question. It may be the City Clerk speaking to the Mayor.]

and in the manner accepted by our representatives in the state legislature, our City Councilors will not vote without reading what they are voting on. We also hope that. The first time one is the target of a sucker punch, the immediate response is one of rage. But coming from the same source a second time you smell it coming from afar.

Reeves: Mr. Yarden.

Yarden: When I read I am speaking and I will have my three minutes.

[Reeves began banging the gavel. His microphone went off. His voice was inaudible. But he kept banging the gavel.]

Yarden: If you interrupt me then it’s gonna take longer.

[Reeves continued banging the gavel.] It looked as if he said “You must follow the rules. I find that I cannot relate anything that you’re saying that is before us tonight.”

Yarden: It is the background of everything that is happening. It’s those two ... You want to dictate how I speak. I am addressing only those issues.

[Reeves continued to bang the gavel.]

Yarden: And you are interfering.

Reeves. You are done for the night.

Yarden: No, I am not. Will somebody allow me to speak in this council chamber?

Reeves: [Banging the gavel] Mr. Yarden

Yarden: Mr. Chairman, I am requesting permission to speak on the order.

Reeves: Mr. Yarden you are fin ... You are not speaking on the order.

Yarden: Yes I am.

Reeves: I am asking you to leave nicely.

Yarden: You gave me three minutes and now you’re trying to silence me.

[Reeves continued to bang the gavel. Much of what he said was inaudible.]

Reeves: You cannot interrupt the meeting. I’ll have to remove you.

Yarden: If not a single progressive ...

Reeves: [banging the gavel] You cannot disrupt this meeting. Please go now.

Yarden: If not a single progressive councilor in this chamber

Reeves: Madam Clerk please call the police.

Yarden: ... in this Cambridge chamber is not capable of allowing me to have another minute.

At 38:53 Reeves turned his microphone on.

Reeves: We are in recess. [He got up from the chair.]

Screen went to black

Audio remained on

Yarden: You are a coward sir.

[Clapping can be heard]

Yarden: You are afraid of free speech. You fear the people speaking. A good progressive Democrat.

Woman’s voice: . . . public speaking law.

Man’s voice: A 78-year-old man. Way to go Mayor. [Yarden is 83.]

Woman’s voice: You should be very proud of yourself sir.

Man’s Voice: Embarrass yourself and the city. We’re in recess.

At about 40:00 the meeting was reconvened.

Transcribed by Roy Bercaw from a video tape of the meeting.