A packed Thornton Township meeting Tuesday that started in high spirits devolved into a brawl after residents got up to speak.
Chaos erupted during the public comment period after community activist Jedidiah Brown called Supervisor Tiffany Henyard an expletive.
Following his comments, Brown was seen walking toward the table where Henyard and other township officials were seated before he spun around toward the back of the building where the fight broke out.
Henyard was seen involved in the melee that broke out between her administration’s defenders and those supporting Brown. Security officers at the at Township Hall in South Holland ultimately broke up the fight before police arrived a little before 8 p.m.
The violence came about six months after Brown was arrested after providing public comment at a Dolton meeting, where Henyard is mayor.
There, he made critical comments toward Trustee Andrew Holmes, an ally of Henyard’s, and began walking toward him, leading police to push the two men apart and arrest Brown. Brown said after that Holmes cussed at him and beckoned him.
Before Tuesday’s brawl, the meeting signaled hope for many community members who packed the Township Hall basement. It was the first scheduled meeting with new Trustee Stephanie Wiedeman, seen as a fresh face aligned with activists opposing the supervisor’s administration.
During the meeting, Wiedeman helped usher in audits and investigations of township departments and officials, items trustees previously lacked the votes to approve. Following discussion of complaints against township employees and close allies to Henyard, William Moore and Kamal Woods, in closed session, the board also voted to put the two on paid administrative leave.
Many residents during public comment congratulated Wiedeman and thanked her for also pushing back against agenda items proposed by Henyard that mostly failed Tuesday.
This is a developing story. Check back for more details.
ostevens@chicagotribune.com
