Santa Barbara erupts over terrifying guillotine sign displayed at City Hall
Airfind news item
By Marina Peña
Published on August 2, 2026.
A protester at a Santa Barbara City Council meeting held up a controversial sign that suggested that they wanted to decapitate political leaders. The sign featured a guillotine alongside elephant and donkey symbols representing Republicans and Democrats. The meeting, attended by tenant advocates, was marked by hours of jeering, heckling and berating of councilmembers, City Administrator Kelly McAdoo and other city officials. Mayor Randy Rowse, who was the target of much of the aggressive behavior, said he "100 percent" disapproves of the sign and plans to limit signs at the public comment podium. Other council members, including Eric Friedman, who is running for mayor, and Oscar Gutierrez, supported the sign but defended free speech rights.
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