She would do the splits, among other gymnastics, at council meetings
Phoenix: A 65-year-old woman has been ordered to stop performing cartwheels and doing the splits at council meetings.
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Officials at Maricopa County in Phoenix, Arizona, have acted after community activist Diane ‘DD’ Barker showed off her gymnastic skills at a Maricopa Association of Governments meeting before she addressed a public hearing.
“I was in shorts, appropriately dressed,” said Barker. “I was not near anybody that they could get hurt. I did a cartwheel and I did a split, too. They don’t talk about the splits.”
Barker says her personal expression was a way to show the benefits of riding her bicycle, exercise and using public transportation.
But county officials weren’t happy with the cartwheel and sent the former teacher a letter demanding she stop the stunt.
The letter stated: “Public bodies may impose reasonable time, place and manner restrictions on speakers and the request that you not perform cartwheels is a reasonable and permitted restriction. Not following the rules may result in the Chair revoking your request to speak at the meeting.”
Barker retorted: “Well, it’s disappointing. But I feel there’s no reason for me to go try and prove I have an ego and I’m right or wrong to do it again.”
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