An Alabama councilman faces criminal charges after allegedly attacking a mayor in the parking lot.
The heated encounter took place on Monday night following a council meeting in Tarrant. Police Chief Wendall Major recalled speaking with councilman Tommy Bryant in the parking lot when they were approached by Mayor Wayman Newton.
According to surveillance footage, the three men were standing in the parking lot for a few minutes before Bryant struck Newton in the head. The mayor fell to his knees but quickly regained his footing and exchanged more words with Bryant.
“He started attacking me and verbally assaulting me. He sucker-punched me,” Newton says. “[Bryant had] been on one all night. He’d made veiled threats against me.”
Bryant was arrested and booked on harassment charges following the altercation. However, he was later released that night after posting a $1,000 bond.
Bryant and Newton have had an interesting relationship since 2021, when Newton was elected the city’s first black mayor. Bryant was arrested that same year for harassment charges after allegedly shouting explicit comments at Newton.
Last year, residents called for Bryant to resign after he repeatedly used the n-word during a council meeting.
“The n-word. The n-word. Let’s get to the n-word,” he said. “Hey. Do we have a house n*gger in here? Do we? Hey. Would she please stand up?”
Despite receiving backlash, Bryant refused to apologize for his insensitive remarks.
Tarrant, Alabama city council member Tommy Bryant has come under fire after he stood up and loudly asked, “Do we have a house nigger in here?” during a city council meeting https://t.co/5HqTZ3WV4m pic.twitter.com/xo1rjgqSGy
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 20, 2021
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