The first Thornton Township Board meeting in months was marred by punches and expletive language. Leaders of the south suburban Chicago township were forced to clear the hall and stop working again as chaos erupted.
CBS reported last month that the confrontation began shortly after the meeting’s public comment session. The final person to speak was Jedidiah Brown, who verbally attacked Tiffany Henyard, the mayor of Dolton and Thornton Township Supervisor. Brown concluded by calling Henyard a “b****.”
Before Brown could return to his seat, Henyard’s allies, including her boyfriend, Kamal Woods, surrounded Brown, and punches flew.
Other men began to join the fight, and blows and kicks were exchanged. After that, security attempted to separate the men.
Witnesses reported that Henyard, who was seated with the board of trustees at a table at the front of the room, rushed in the direction of the altercation. Henyard lost a shoe and was tossed to the ground, but it was unclear if she was attempting to break up the fight or to get involved herself.
The next day, Brown stated that he had filed a protective order against Henyard and Woods.
One of Henyard’s supporters blamed the conflict on misinformation and false charges. The ally did not provide specifics, but stated that misleading information is placing the supervisor in danger.
The meeting had already become tense before it turned violent, when the newest trustee, Stephanie Wiedeman, moved to put Woods and another man, William Moore, on leave without pay and engage auditors to investigate their administration of the township’s at-risk juvenile program.
Henyard recruited Woods to oversee the township youth program, and many members of the community and board have questioned the work that Woods and Moore, who is also an ally of Henyard, ever conducted in Thornton Township.
The board then immediately put Woods and Moore on paid leave while their positions were being investigated. Henyard claimed that putting Woods on leave was merely a personal decision and attempted to prevent the trustees from voting on Woods and Moore.
During the incident, South Holland police were brought in, but it is uncertain whether anyone was arrested or detained. Although the board meeting was never officially adjourned, the fight ended when police ejected everyone from the building.
Residents left the meeting complaining about how embarrassing the entire night was for the township.
“I have never seen a politician jump in and fight like that – it was scary and horrible- It is an embarrassment,” Meghan Dudek said, according to NBC Chicago.
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