Saturday, October 17, 2009

City Council Meeting Fight in St Petersburg

St Petersburg City Council Meeting Brawl



Watch as a citizen is attacked by a supporter of City Council (who shouts, "WHY DON'T YOU MOVE!") and then arrested by police for defending himself, while the aggressor is allowed to remain free in council chambers shaking hands.

This could never happen in Pacifica . . . right?

posted by JEFFREY W SIMONS

1 comment:

Jeffrey W Simons said...

Here's the full story from St Petersberg Times:

http://www.tampabay.com/news/fight-breaks-out-at-st-petersburg-city-council-meeting/1044321

"ST. PETERSBURG — A brawl erupted at a City Council meeting Thursday after council members voted to cede the public sidewalk fronting BayWalk to its owners.

The controversial 5-3 vote sent the audience into a flurry of celebratory cheers and passionate criticism that soon led to a fight.

The Rev. Bruce Wright, who spent weeks opposing the proposal, yelled: "You are so full of (expletive) it is ridiculous."

Frederick Dudley, who is the older brother of council member Bill Dudley and who had been in favor of the idea, screamed back: "Why don't you move?"

Then Frederick Dudley, 76, and Ronald Deaton, 61, a free speech activist, briefly traded insults before Dudley rushed Deaton.

The men grabbed each other by the neck and tumbled to the ground in a flurry of punches.

Police officers pulled the men apart and then jumped on Deaton while Dudley walked around the council chambers, speaking quietly with city officials.

Eventually, both men were escorted from City Hall, arrested and charged with disorderly conduct."