The Worcester City Council held a contentious Zoom meeting Tuesday night, facing significant criticism from residents after closing City Hall to the public over safety concerns following protests about a federal immigration arrest. Community members, including organizers who gathered outside City Hall, condemned the decision and the police's actions during the arrest. Activists voiced the need for transparency, urging for body camera footage to be released, while emphasizing that no violence had occurred at the protests, contravening the city's reasoning for the meeting's remote format.
What happened on Eureka Street was a crime, and police should have been called, but they should have been called to protect the woman who was being kidnapped. I'm here on the Common today outside City Hall, and I have to tell you, there's no violence here. You have nothing to fear from these people. In fact, we want you to join us.
There are 30 people here who showed up to City Hall to speak tonight. Would you please allow them to speak?
Worcester City Manager Eric Batista's office cited public safety concerns as the reason for the closure, and Mayor Joseph Petty said city employees had received threats of violence.
Hundreds met for an emergency protest on the Worcester Common Sunday afternoon, and dozens were in front of Worcester City Hall Tuesday night despite the building being closed.
Collection
[
|
...
]