Suburban Star Chambers

The Star Chamber has been brought to Chester County — and, Delaware and Montgomery Counties. The unstoppable, government-growing, power-seeking Democratic majority ignored questions and concerns to create an Orwellian-named “Human Relations Commission.” To stop “hate.”

If you run a daycare or pre-school, a local sports program, or health club, you should really pay attention. You could be subpoenaed to appear before the “Commission.” If your children attend a daycare or pre-school, play in a local sports program, or you’re a member of a health club, pay attention, too.

And if you work at a daycare, pre-school or health club, or if you volunteer as a coach in a local sports program, you ought to really pay attention — because one slip of the tongue and you could be subpoenaed, too.

The “Commission” could declare you a certified “hater” — and fine you. 

This includes expressing sentiments shared by up to 80 percent of all Americans: men should not be allowed to play in girls sports. Men should not be allowed in women’s locker rooms. And, there are two genders: male and female. (Don’t worry, I’m safe: the ordinance doesn’t go into effect until December 23. Just in time for Christmas.)

Imagine running a daycare and parents of a boy demand that he use the girls’ potty. Running ACAC and a biological man demands to use the women’s locker. Running a girls softball team and parents of a boy demand that he joins your team.

Apparently, it’s comply or else!

Through their 21-page Ordinance creating this “star chamber,” County Commissioners will appoint “volunteer” members of the “Commission,” who will sit in judgement of Chesco residents. 

You could be a “hater” and might not know it.

“Good morning, boys and girls.” 

“The boy’s potty is outside the blue door. The girl’s potty is near the bookshelf.” 

“Women’s locker.”

In keeping with this new era of progressive “governing” where feelings are paramount, you’re duty-bound to be sensitive to “feelings” 24/7/365 (unless those feelings come from ideas that are conservative, traditional, or Judeo-Christian-based). 

Republican Commissioner Eric Roe posed a series of commonsense, practical questions to the County Solicitor — author of the 21-page, “star chamber” ordinance. The Solicitor acknowledged:

There are no professional or life experiences required to be appointed. There’s no training on how to officiate a judicial proceeding; or, how to conduct investigations. No set duration for an investigation or hearing. There’s no clear standard of proof required.  (Yikes!)

No experience required. No judicial training. No investigative training. Just “stop hate!”

Get appointed by progressive commissioners to enforce a progressive vision of utopia, using progressive-created terms and standards to impose progressive group-think across the County.

If certified as a “hater,” you could fight their decision. Hire an attorney and appeal their decision to the Court of Common Pleas. You have the “right” to spend four or five figures trying to prove you’re not a bigot, misogynist, homophobe, “fascist,” or “nazi.”

In an amazing coincidence, in the span of two weeks, the Democratic-lead county governments of Chester, Delaware and Montgomery County all suddenly — spontaneously — decided to create these witch-hunt panels. It’s not as if it’s part of a state-wide (national?) effort to yet again trumpet that Republicans are haters. Minorities and the ever-evolving, laundry list of sexual preferences and genders that the Left seems so dedicated to creating, validating, frightening — and then, offering to protect — are under “attack.”

Chesco Democrats’ biggest concern isn’t keeping prisoners in jail, empty store-fronts in our towns or in corporate office parks, the increasing shoplifting at Main Street Exton, or local government attacks on mushroom farmers in southern Chester County. Delco Democrats have forgotten about their hospitals closing. And Montco has pushed aside King of Prussia mall transit issues and the over-crowded 422 to the back-burner.

When in trouble, rally the base and fight the “orange man” by intimidating well-meaning folks into compliance.

Chesco Democrats allege there are three genders — at present. Bear in mind that California’s government addresses fourteen, and has listed 72 genders (and counting) in government job applications. What do we do if someone from San Francisco moves to West Chester and gets offended?

Actual, genuine concerns about bona fide rights are already protected by Pennsylvania’s Human Relations Commission (appointed by Governor Shapiro) — with professional staff, rules of proceeding to protect accusers and the accused, and years of legal precedent. In addition, the state attorney general and local district attorneys are empowered to prosecute actual acts of hate — for which we all have zero tolerance. In addition, the US Justice Department and the US Commission on Civil Rights are there to protect everyone.

This star chamber isn’t about protecting actual rights. It’s about virtue-signaling and misusing government to rally anti-Trump, anti-Republican votes.

Progressives control most of K-12 education, almost all higher education and legacy media. All of which are focused on molding you to believe progressive group-think. If, somehow, you miraculously become a free-thinker, wish to defend tradition and the First Amendment, the Commission will use its new, uncontrolled power to re-educate you.

Orwell warned us: “two and two will make five.” Now, it’s “men should play in women’s sports.” 

They will demand that you think like them and talk like them — or, they will subpoena you, brow-beat you and then shame and fine you into compliance. 

Had enough yet?

Guy Ciarrocchi writes for Broad+Liberty and RealClear Pennsylvania. Follow Guy at @PaSuburbsGuy.

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7 thoughts on “Suburban Star Chambers”

  1. For anyone wondering, Orwell did not directly reference “the Star Chamber” in his work. The original Star Chamber was an actual English court that met in secret, did not use juries, and had no appeal process. It was used to punish political opponents, suppress dissent, and was finally abolished in 1641. The historical court’s methods and descent into tyranny make it a potent symbol of the very injustices and abuses of power that Orwell condemned in his writing.

    Guy: The problem is organization. Please compare the websites of Haverford Township for both the Democrats and Republicans. The Republicans still have a clock counting down the time for the primaries (which already happened in May) and zero mention of any current candidates… the Democrats under “Action Teams” and “Ward Organizations” have unique contacts for every Ward and Precinct! In Ward 6, I organized dozens of registered Democrats, along with Republicans, to put up yard signs and canvass for the Republican candidate but that candidate wasn’t interested in their help. It almost seemed like he just ran so the incumbent Dem wouldn’t have to actually compete. The local Republican leadership is so bad that a reasonable person could believe they’ve been co-opted by the Dems.

    1. I agree wholeheartedly with what Michael Sweeney has stated, in both of his comments, from today, Monday, September 29, 2025.

      It appears that there IS a 6th Ward Republican candidate opposing the incumbent Democrat Larry Holmes, but it’s only words on a ballot, and nothing more.

      It’s quite obvious that no real intention to run a viable Republican candidate was ever really pursued by the Haverford Township GOP. It’s really a disgrace!

  2. It didn’t take long for the Swarthmore and Radnor Democrats to go full Commie.
    You can be dammsure the HRC,
    Will attack: Christian and Catholic schools that teach traditional morality. Youth sports clubs that separate boys and girls. Pro-life conservatives.
    Will not attack: Muslims. Illegal aliens. The Postal Service for denying promotions to deserving white men.

    1. DelcoPops: Just checked and the Radnor Township Democrat website has a list of all their candidates for the Nov 4th election. The Republican website does not even bother to list their candidates at all. They are completely disorganized like Haverford Township. I’m convinced the people who hold these Republican leadership positions in these suburban Townships are compromised somehow, because they are grossly negligent at their jobs.

      1. Michael:
        When the GOP held sway in Delco, its leaders were mostly lawyers seeking solicitorships and other patronage jobs. They suppressed, and held in contempt, movement conservatives like you and me.
        Now that there’s no patronage to be had, the old leaders are fugitive, and the party is bereft.
        In contrast, the Democrats are flush with teacher union cash.
        Thanks for doing what you can,
        Pops

  3. So did anyone try to put a stop to the Delco power grab HRC? Actually, yes. Gregory Stenstrom of Glen Mills served the Delco Council with a pro se lawsuit immediately prior to the 2nd reading of the HRC proposed ordinance. Did it have any effect? Actually, it did. The county suddenly backed down from trying to pass the ordinance and quickly shifted to passage of a toothless resolution to create an HRC commission with no enforcement power. Why? they could not move forward due to the legal challenge by Mr. Stenstrom. Did anyone else scramble to sue the county? Of course not! Mr. Stenstrom’s lawsuit could provide a useful template for other counties. What happens next remains unclear, but respect is due Mr. Stenstrom!

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