COLLEGE PARK, Ga. — A College Park judge dismissed a temporary protective order against a resident who said the order kept her from speaking at a City Council meeting.
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Nurse practitioner Allyson Blue said she has long used social media to criticize elected officials. She said those posts became an issue after her friendship with College Park Councilwoman Jamelle McKenzie ended and Blue began posting critically about McKenzie.
McKenzie filed a temporary protective order, or TPO, against Blue.
Blue said she did not know about the order when she arrived at the Sept. 21 City Council meeting. She said the College Park police chief removed her from the meeting and handed her a copy of the TPO.
Blue described the experience as humiliating and embarrassing because other people were there.
The judge heard from both sides for about two hours Monday before dismissing the protective order. According to Blue, the judge cited a lack of evidence of physical threats or harm against McKenzie.
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Blue said she believes McKenzie wanted to keep her from speaking publicly, particularly with an election year approaching.
McKenzie agreed to an interview after the TPO was dismissed, but instead provided a statement.
“I sought the protective order because I believed the escalating pattern of behavior warranted taking reasonable steps to protect myself,” McKenzie said in part. “My decision was based on safety—not politics, criticism, disagreement, or an effort to suppress anyone’s voice.”
McKenzie also said she had a reasonable fear for her safety.
With the TPO dismissed, Blue said she plans to speak at the next College Park City Council meeting.
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