Female California activist sues town over arrest for clapping during meeting.

A California activist who was arrested for clapping too loudly at a Riverside council meeting last year has sued the city for infringing her right to free speech during the meeting.

The bizarre incident took place at a June 25, 2013 meeting, when Letitia Pepper was applauding in support of speakers at a public meeting.

Mayor William Rusty Bailey had warned people not to clap because it could discourage others with different points of view from commenting. He signed a citizen's arrest against Pepper, reports the Press Enterprise.

A YouTube video of the scene shows a few people groaning as the announcement is made and Pepper refuses to back away.

"It doesn't disrupt to clap while one person moves to the podium," she said.

"This is a public place and I have a right to be here," she told an officer who tried to escort her out.

She told two officers that tried to speak with her quietly they would have to arrest her. After three minutes of her refusing to leave an officer put his hands on her elbow and started to push her out of the room.

"Oh you are assaulting me! Take your hands off of me!" she screeched. "You are not legally able to remove me. I have done nothing illegal."

After asking several times if she was under arrest an officer responded that she was.

The video follows her being handcuffed outside of the building.

"Here we are folks, the city of Riverside. Where people can be arrested and not told for what? For clapping at a public meeting. A clap that didn't disrupt anyone from speaking," she said. "Because Mayor Rusty Bailey, who I'm sad to say teaches high school government, had the police arrest me not for doing anything illegal, but because he didn't like the fact that can't totally control what the public says and does at a meeting."

Charges against Pepper were dropped and now she has filed a lawsuit against the city for the actions, the Press reports.

Bailey said in a statement to the outlet that city officials wanted to ensure everyone's rights to free speech are respected and everyone can feel comfortable expressing their views. He added that the rules of conduct aim to "ensure that the business of the City can be carried out efficiently and without unnecessary disruptions."

He also said he wanted to ensure the meeting could proceed efficiently and without unnecessary disruptions.

Pepper, an activist who has run for mayor and council, said they did not disrupt anyone from speaking and clapped after they had finished. The activist claims the arrest are "a systematic abridgement of the rights" of assembly, freedom of expression and petitioning the government, the outlet reported.