LAFAYETTE, La. — Charges have been dropped against a Lafayette woman who set up a barbecue pit outside Mayor-President Josh Guillory's home last year as a form of protest.
Tara Fogleman Laxey, 46, was booked with disturbing the peace and obstruction of public passages charges after her cookout in front of the mayor's home on Aug. 30, 2020.
In court Monday, Laxey agreed to a civil stay-away order for the next year as part of an agreement with the state to dismiss the charges.
She will stay 100 feet away from Guillory, his family and his residence. The order does not apply to Guillory in his capacity as a public servant, such as attending council meetings at City Hall, however.
A spokesman for the District Attorney's Office said that, while they do support Laxey's right to protest the government and its officials, they felt this was the best way forward.
Laxey's First Amendment rights to protest will not be affected.
After 15th Judicial District Judge Royale Colbert announced the conditions of the stay away order, Laxey attempted to explain the political reasons for her protest and ended by saying "Justice for Trayford Pellerin.".
"This is not the arena of politics," Colbert responded.
We'll have more later today on KATC TV3.
