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 running into the melee between her administration’s defenders and those supporting Brown. Private security officers at the Township Hall in South Holland called police, who said Wednesday morning they had not made any arrests as those involved left the building before they arrived.
Township Trustees Chris Gonzalez, Carmen Carlisle and Stephanie Wiedeman, who was voted into the seat just last week, condemned the violence but did not blame any individuals.
“We are deeply disturbed by the events that transpired during last night’s board meeting,” the trustees said in a statement Wednesday morning. “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.”
Nate Fields, an Independent candidate for supervisor in the April 1 township election, posted on social media the fight was “another disturbing display of intimidation and hostility under the current administration.”
Fields said Henyard’s boyfriend, who also serves in her administration, showed aggression toward Brown after he “exercised his right as a citizen to address the Supervisor.”
“This behavior is not only unbecoming of public officials and their affiliates, but it also reflects the low-class tactics that have plagued this administration,” Fields wrote in his Facebook post. “The office of Thornton Township Supervisor is one of leadership, service, and community trust, not a stage for bullying and harassment.”
The violence came about six months after Brown was arrested after providing public comment at a Dolton meeting, where Henyard is mayor.
Thornton Township Trustee Carmen Carlisle, left, seated next to Trustee Stephanie Wiedeman, speaks during Wiedeman’s first meeting Jan. 28, 2025. (Olivia Stevens/Daily Southtown)
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 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 members of Henyard’s administration 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
Chaos erupted after community activist Jedidiah Brown called Thornton Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard an expletive.
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
More in Daily Southtown
