Pinellas board removes woman after 55-second audio clip

A woman wearing a black burka was removed from a Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners meeting on Wednesday after playing a recording of the Islamic call to prayer. The audio clip ran for nearly 60 seconds while she stood at the podium during the public comment period. She did not speak during the playback.

Board Chairman Dave Eggers interrupted the session to enforce county rules. He stated that members addressing the board must speak in person rather than use pre-recorded media. "Ma'am, you're going to have to stop … stop the music, stop the tape," Eggers said. The woman continued the audio until a Pinellas County Sheriff's Office deputy escorted her from the room and out of the building.

Audience members reacted with audible tension, shouting at Eggers over the decision. He asked the group to maintain decorum, noting that the community shares the space. "We're all people living together here," he told the room.

Eggers clarified the policy difference between recording the meeting and using taped audio as a form of commentary. "We don't allow taped things," he explained. "You can record the meeting, but we don't allow taped activity like that. We ask you to come here and make comments, and that was not a comment."

The sheriff's office confirmed the woman left the premises without further incident. The agency also stated she will not face criminal charges. It was not immediately clear if the action was intended as a protest or a prank.