Tensions flared at a Thornton Township Board of Trustees meeting, culminating in a physical altercation involving Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard, her boyfriend Kamal Woods, and activist Jedidiah Brown. The confrontation stemmed from Brown's public criticism of Henyard's leadership, referencing a recent report by former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot that alleged financial mismanagement within Henyard's administration.

Brown's remarks, delivered during the public comment period, centered on Henyard's alleged misuse of funds and failure to address the issues raised in Lightfoot's investigation. He concluded his comments with a derogatory remark directed at the mayor, which immediately sparked a reaction from Woods.

Video footage of the incident shows Woods and Brown exchanging blows, with others quickly joining the fray. Henyard, initially seated at the front of the room, is seen rushing towards the commotion. Eyewitnesses offered differing accounts of her involvement, with some suggesting she participated in the fight while others believed she was attempting to intervene.

Henyard's attorney, Beau B. Brindley, attributed the incident to the spread of misinformation about the mayor on social media, claiming it created a hostile environment and put her safety at risk. The meeting had already been fraught with tension prior to the altercation, with the board voting to place Woods and another individual on unpaid leave pending an audit of the township's youth program.

This recent incident follows a series of controversies surrounding Henyard, including her recent primary election loss, allegations of voter suppression, and a court order holding her in contempt for allegedly delaying liquor licenses. Lightfoot's report, presented earlier in the week, detailed a pattern of financial mismanagement within Henyard's administration, including unaccounted-for American Rescue Plan funds and questionable credit card expenditures.