ORONOCO, Minn. – An Oronoco woman sued Mayor Ryland Eichorst and several City Council members for throwing her out of a Council meeting as she was speaking. Andrea Johnson claims her citizen right to express herself was violated. Her First Amendment suit is in federal court. Johnson had objected at a March meeting that Council member Carl Krause had missed a lot of meetings. Krause blamed other Council members for Johnson’s criticism and abruptly resigned and walked out: “I don’t have to be humiliated by any other Council person to have puppets come in and talk.” Later Krause changed mind and came back. So did Johnson — at a July 17 meeting. While speaking a three-minute open mic period, Johnson accused Krause of intimidation. Before her time was up, Mayor Eichorst ordered a sheriff’s deputy to escorted her out. In filing her First Amendment suit, Johnson said: “Luckily as a grown woman, I am strong enough to handle that kind of nonsense.”
