Colorado Springs, especially the South Side, needs to pay attention to what just happened at City Hall.
Councilmember Kimberly Gold was issued a formal reprimand for speaking plainly about what the public witnessed during the MLK proclamation discussion. She did not make up facts. She did not disrupt the meeting. She described the moment clearly and represented the values and concerns of District 4, the district that elected her to serve.
This reprimand isn’t about “decorum.” What it is about is control.
When an elected official is punished for honest public speech, it sends a message that only certain voices are allowed to speak, and that Kim can’t tell constituents the truth. This is an attempt at silencing her. It is a warning shot, directed at one of the kindest people you’ll ever meet!
Like I said earlier this week in the Pikes Peak Bulletin, this bullshit is how you kill civic engagement – and fuel the civic unrest, protest, and backlash that leaders always act surprised about after they have ignored and tried to manipulate community voices for years.
People organize when they are disrespected. People mobilize when they are silenced. People fight when they see power being abused! And we’ve already shown them we will fight.
Colorado Springs does not need to become more divided. It needs to become more honest.
This is exactly how democracy gets subverted and manipulated right in front of our faces. Quietly. Procedurally. With coordinated pressure behind closed doors.
Even more concerning is the threat that this so-called reprimand carries to remove Councilmember Gold from boards and committees. That is not discipline, that is retaliation against us and our survival in this city. It would strip District 4 of representation and punish residents for electing someone who simply said the truth and in a more tolerant and professional way than any of us would have.
If you’re in District 4 you need to stand up now! Email City Council and the Mayor’s office! Demand that this reprimand be withdrawn immediately! Show up to meetings. Use public comment to denounce this attempt to silence an elected official.
Kimberly Gold is doing her job. Now the people need to do ours.
And that starts by refusing to let City Hall punish the truth.
Shaun Walls is a Pikes Peak Bulletin board member. The views expressed here are his alone. He is not paid for his work for the Bulletin.