Tiffany Henyard issues statement after video shows her in brawl at Thornton Township meeting​on January 30, 2025 at 4:16 am

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (WLS) — Services are expected to return to Thornton Township Wednesday after steps by the board Tuesday night. The action took place before a brawl broke out.

A representative for Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard released a statement Wednesday about the incident.

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Henyard said the township shutdown is over and services will resume Wednesday. However, the board meeting devolved to a new low after a fight broke out.

Jedediah Brown said although he no longer lives in the Chicago area, he still advocates for people here and would not have been at the meeting if residents had not asked him to be.

Wednesday, Brown said he’s didn’t start the melee and is taking issue with being blamed for the violence. Brown, along with his friend, are defending themselves.

It appears fists began to fly after Brown, an outspoken critic of Henyard, called her a expletive during a Thornton Township meeting Tuesday night.

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“I was going back to my seat and then come on, made his explanation of a threat and comment I went back and then they started a fight,” Brown said.

But Brown said as he turned to walk back to his seat and not toward Henyard that the township supervisor’s boyfriend confronted him.

That’s when Brown’s friend LeVelle Redmond, a former Dolton worker who said he was fired by Henyard and is now homeless, was just protecting his friend.

“He was closing in and he turned around and said who are you talking to and I pushed them back and I tried to put my hand up to push him back,” Redmond said.

Police were called and Brown was removed by security.

The meeting was the first where the vacancy on the board was filled allowing the board to finally approve the township’s tax levy ordinance and insurance ending the shutdown.

South Holland police said no arrests were made.

Henyard’s attorney issued the following statement Wednesday afternoon:

“Supervisor Tiffany Henyard was verbally assaulted, and her personal safety threatened, at the Thornton Township board meeting on January 28, 2025, by Jedediah Brown, a known aggressor against whom the Supervisor had tried to secure an emergency restraining order but was denied by the court. After a slew of insulting and inciting words, including calling the Supervisor a b****, Jedediah Brown and his accomplice, LaVell X J Redmond, an equally known aggressor and registered sex offender, attacked the Supervisor’s significant other, Mr. Kamal Woods, knocking him to the floor, kicking and punching him. The Supervisor suffered minor injuries when she instinctively rushed to the melee in an attempt to break it up. Mr. Woods also suffered minor injuries, but both are okay. All legal options would be pursued.”

The Village of Dolton issued a statement saying, “We are aware of a potential peaceful protest that may occur during tonight’s Village of Dolton Board meeting. Additionally, Mayor Henyard has stated she will not be attending. Please rest assured that the meeting is not canceled and will proceed as scheduled. At this time, the Board is not aware of any credible threats related to the protest. We fully respect the right to peaceful demonstration and encourage all expressions to remain constructive and orderly. Our priority remains the safety and well-being of all attendees, and we are taking the necessary precautions to ensure a secure and productive environment.”

A spokesperson added, “We are writing to address the unfortunate and disturbing events that took place at the Thornton Township Board meeting in South Holland last night. To clarify, this was not a Village of Dolton board meeting, and none of the Village of Dolton Trustees were in attendance.”