Thorntown Township brawl: Local officials decry 'disgraceful behavior'
THORNTON TWP., Ill. - South suburban officials decried the violent brawl that broke out at a Thorntown Township meeting Tuesday night involving Supervisor Tiffany Henyard.
The brawl began after a frequent critic of Henyard called her an expletive during public comments and her boyfriend confronted him.
The incident comes amid ongoing scrutiny of Henyard, who also serves as the mayor of Dolton. Earlier this week, former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot presented the findings of her investigation into alleged misuse of funds by Henyard.
‘Disgraceful behavior’
What they're saying:
The fight elicited condemnation from at least one local official, Calumet City Alderwoman Monet S. Wilson.
"What should have been a space for governance was turned into a battleground of aggression – both physical and verbal – fueled by misinformation, corruption, and reckless political warfare," Wilson said in a lengthy statement. "This disgraceful behavior is not just unacceptable; it is a direct threat to our democracy and public safety."
Wilson even went as far to say that children should no longer attend Thornton Township meetings.
In a statement, Thornton Township Trustees Christopher Gonzalez, Stephanie Wiedeman and Carmen Carlisle said they were "deeply disturbed by the events that transpired during last night's board meeting. As public officials, we are entrusted with leading through professionalism, integrity, and respect. What began as a productive discussion on critical community matters descended into chaos and violence, behavior that has no place in Thornton Township and will not be tolerated."
Dolton Village Trustee Jason House also released a statement on behalf of his fellow village trustees. He made clear that none of the village trustees were in attendance on Tuesday night in Thornton Township, which is a separate body of government.
"Our hearts go out to the residents who continue to witness such turmoil, and we share in your frustration and disappointment," the trustee said in the statement. "It is truly disheartening to see our community cast in a negative light due to actions that do not reflect the values we stand for. Violence and chaos have no place in Dolton or Thornton Township."