A Palo Alto City Council candidate took over part of a Stanford event with one of the country's best-known independent journalists, about a week before Election Day.
What happened
On Friday, Oct. 23, CEMEX Auditorium screened “Steal This Story, Please!,” a documentary about “Democracy Now!” founder Amy Goodman. The Stanford Daily said it was the film's first screening on a college campus. During the panel afterward, candidate Henry Etzkowitz stepped in and demanded to speak with Goodman one-on-one. “Stanford says they'll arrest me if I appear on campus. Does that interest you?” he asked, according to Palo Alto Online.
Moderator Janine Zacharia, a Stanford lecturer, and others tried to get him to leave. Instead, Goodman offered a deal: a five-minute interview on stage, which also moved him away from the crowd and closer to an exit. Etzkowitz told her he decided to run after organizing fellow tenants at the Stanford-owned Oak Creek Apartments, and he urged students to come to the next council meeting. When his time ran out and he wouldn't stop, event staff took him backstage. Goodman's brother, Stanford medical school associate dean Steven Goodman, confirmed on stage that, at the request of event staff, Etzkowitz was not arrested.
“I agree with freedom of speech,” Goodman said afterward, “which is why I talked to Henry.”
The race
Etzkowitz is one of eight candidates running for three Palo Alto council seats on Tuesday's ballot. For the full field, see our Palo Alto council guide.
How to vote
Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Polls and vote centers close at 8 p.m., and mailed ballots must be postmarked by Election Day and arrive within seven days. You can check your registration and ballot status at sos.ca.gov/elections. California lets you register and vote the same day at a vote center.