By La Voz Staff

The City of Sunnyside has formally apologized to Maria Fernandez — Executive Director of Ella Adelante, one of the region’s most prominent Latina-led civil rights organizations — after violating her First Amendment rights during the June 2, 2025 City Council meeting. The apology came only after Sunnyside’s insurance pool agreed to pay $35,000 in legal fees to settle Fernandez’s federal claim.

Maria Fernandez

The settlement was announced and approved during the November 24th, 2025 Council meeting, marking a major rebuke of the city’s actions and a public acknowledgment that Fernandez was illegally silenced while attempting to testify on matters involving racism, equity, and community representation.

The ruling also shines new light on the deep procedural abuses, political retaliation, and selective enforcement that have taken place inside Sunnyside’s government this year — including the same night former City Manager Mike Gonzalez was placed on administrative leave for what the city later admitted were “non-disciplinary” reasons.

A Latina Civil Rights Leader Silenced

On June 2, Fernandez attempted to speak during public comment, addressing racism in Sunnyside and calling out a pattern of dismissing voices of color. She was repeatedly interrupted, admonished, and ultimately ordered to step down from the podium by Mayor Dean Broersma after she criticized white community members who insisted racism no longer exists.

Mayor Broersma was forced to apologize

Her comments were met with loud objections from several white attendees — all while Fernandez attempted to speak without profanity, threats, or any violation of procedure, as the transcript shows.

The mayor never warned or removed the audience members interrupting her.

He only moved to silence her.

According to the city attorney’s own description on December 1:

“This action violated your First Amendment rights… and the rule contained unconstitutional language that allowed a speaker to be silenced based on the content of their speech.” — Julie Norton, City Attorney

The city admitted that Rule 8.3 of its Council Procedures was unconstitutional, giving the mayor improper authority to shut down speech he disagreed with.

This unconstitutional rule was used against a Latina woman — while white residents were allowed to speak freely, even when they crossed lines, launched attacks, or spread political misinformation.

The Apology the City Was Forced to Read

Following the 3–2 vote approving the settlement (with Councilmembers Hancock and Broersma voting “no”), Mayor Broersma read a prepared apology aloud:

“We acknowledge we did not allow you, Ms. Fernandez, to finish your remarks… This action violated your First Amendment rights, and… members of the public who interrupted you were not admonished.”

The city also committed to rewrite its policies so it cannot silence residents based on viewpoint.

This amounts to a formal admission of wrongdoing.

A Double Standard on Full Display

Perhaps the most striking part of the December 1 meeting: the stark contradiction between how Maria Fernandez was treated — and how white speakers were allowed to behave both in June and again on December 1. Broersma allowed former city clerk Deb Estrada to cast dispersions on staff members and was even allowed into an executive session. Why she was let into an executive session, is still mind boggling.

La Voz reviewed the full transcripts from the meeting

Monica Niemeyer

Was allowed to speak uninterrupted while accusing former HR Director Mr. Brown of making violent comments, attacking former City Manager Mike Gonzalez, and casting aspersions on Ella Adelante leadership.

Brittain Moore

Delivered a lengthy speech making unverified allegations, attacking ELLA, attacking community advocates, and politicizing HR matters — without interruption.

Kenton Gartrell

Openly discussed shooting pigs in his backyard, accused staff of racism, referenced whistleblower cases, and pushed for personnel action in violation of RCW — again, without interruption.

The mayor never silenced them.
Never warned them.
Never ordered them to sit down.

Yet on June 2, Maria Fernandez was cut off repeatedly for talking about racism — and only racism.

The contrast could not be clearer.

Context: A Council Obsessed with Silencing Critics

This incident did not occur in isolation.

It happened the exact same night then–City Manager Mike Gonzalez was placed on administrative leave in a secretive, non-disciplinary action — one that many in the community have viewed as political retaliation.

Over the following months:

• Councilors Theresa Hancock, Vicky Ripley, and others used council meetings to publicly attack staff and nonprofit partners.
• False narratives were allowed to spread during public comment unchecked.
• Speakers aligned with the anti-Diversity faction were given unlimited freedom to accuse, demean, and mislead.
• Voices of color — particularly those associated with ELLA — were treated as unwelcome, disruptive, or “out of order.”

The settlement with Fernandez confirms what many Sunnyside residents already felt:

There was a deliberate attempt to silence certain viewpoints — especially those challenging racism or defending the Latino community.

City Attorney Confirms What Community Knew

During the December 1 meeting, Councilmember Frausto asked the central question:

“Can we clarify on record why this suit was filed?”

City Attorney Norton replied:

“She filed a lawsuit claiming that her First Amendment right to free speech was violated.”

A plain admission.

No excuses.
No legal gymnastics.
No attempt to hide behind “decorum.”

The City violated her rights.
And insurance chose to settle rather than defend the mayor’s actions in court.

Implications for Sunnyside

This case has several major consequences:

1. The city now has a documented First Amendment violation.

This could expose Sunnyside to future litigation if the city again attempts to silence residents.

2. The council’s credibility on equity issues is deeply damaged.

Leadership allowed white residents to launch political attacks while cutting off a Latina civil rights leader.

3. It raises serious questions about the city’s treatment of Mike Gonzalez.

The same individuals who silenced Fernandez were involved in the political drama surrounding Gonzalez — who was later cleared of wrongdoing but still removed.

4. The transcripts reveal a culture of selective enforcement and personal vendettas.

Council rules were applied based on who was speaking, not what rule was actually violated.

Conclusion: Sunnyside Must Confront Its Own Biases

Maria Fernandez’s victory is not just a legal win — it is a reminder of the ongoing struggles facing communities of color in Sunnyside.

A Latina leader was silenced for speaking the truth about racism.

White residents were allowed to hurl accusations, make inflammatory remarks, and dominate the narrative.

And city leaders only admitted wrongdoing when a lawsuit forced them to face reality.

This settlement is a turning point — and a warning.

As the city rewrites its policies, it must also reckon with the deeper cultural issues exposed in these transcripts: the hostility toward equity work, the willingness of some leaders to believe lies over evidence, and the pattern of retaliation aimed at anyone — including the former City Manager — who challenged the status quo.

Sunnyside deserves better.
And after December 1, there is no denying it any longer.