The mayor of a suburb of metropolitan Atlanta verbally berated a Black councilwoman during a recent city council meeting.
He believed she was asking too many questions, impeding the proceedings with queries he believed were irrelevant to the agenda.
The council gathered in the Council Chambers at the Glanton Municipal Complex on Monday, Oct. 23, at 6:30 p.m., with an array of issues on the table. The mayor, Richard Proctor, attempted to keep order in the meeting by censuring the only Black woman elected to the body.
Despite his efforts, councilwoman Dee Latimore Berry was adamant about getting her points across.
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One of the major points of clarification she asked was how the council could meet without city attorney Mark Mitchell present. She also asked why the meeting wasn’t a closed-session one, as would be the case when personnel matters are discussed. Berry also raised questions about the city manager’s position and pay.
“Mrs. Berry, would you please stay on topic tonight, or I’m gonna have you removed,” Proctor said after telling her that the city attorney didn’t need to be there.
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“You’re going to have me removed for asking a question,” she responded and continued to press.
The agitated mayor yelled at the elected official, aggressively pointing his finger at her. He then said in a loud, aggressive tone, “Quiet. Quiet, and I mean it!”
At that point, according to WSB Radio. James Berry, councilwoman Berry’s husband, interjected, standing up for his wife.
“Let me get something squared away with you now— I’m tired of you disrespecting Mrs. Berry. You’re gonna give her respect like you give the rest of them,” James Berry snapped.
The mayor said that the councilwoman was out of order, to which her husband clapped back, “You’re out of order, too, and you’re the mayor. You’re supposed to be able to hold things down!”
Proctor…
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