Thornton Township meeting ends in brawl involving Supervisor Tiffany Henyard, witnesses say: VIDEO

The board approved the township's tax levy ordinance and insurance, ending a weeks-long government shutdown.

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Wednesday, January 29, 2025 4:45AM
Thornton Twp. meeting ends in brawl involving Henyard, witnesses say
Fists flew during public comment in a moment of chaos that residents at Tuesday night's Thornton Township Board of Trustees meeting described as disgraceful.

SOUTH HOLLAND, Ill. (WLS) -- Fists flew during public comment in a moment of chaos that residents at Tuesday night's Thornton Township Board of Trustees meeting described as disgraceful.

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"It should never happen. I just couldn't believe that it came to that," said resident Gerald Williams.

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Moments earlier, activist Jedidiah Brown had called Supervisor Tiffany Henyard an expletive and when he appeared to walk toward her, her supporters jumped in. The result was an all-out brawl that multiple witnesses say involved Henyard herself.

"It was one thing when the guys were fighting, but when she jumped in it, I was taken aback. I was floored," said resident Alicia Nichole.

"She jumped in. She hit her head on the table, so I don't know. She might be injured," Williams said.

SEE ALSO | Tiffany Henyard fails legal challenge to stay on ballot for Thornton Township supervisor

Security carried Brown out, and the police were called, but it was not over. It took several minutes for tempers to finally cool.

Before the fight, there was plenty of verbal sparring at this meeting, the first since Trustee Stephanie Wiedeman was selected to fill a vacancy on the board at a meeting of township electors last week. Her selection ended a political standoff over the position that led to a government shutdown.

With Wiedeman, the board was finally able to approve the township's tax levy ordinance and insurance, ending the shutdown.

"The township will be reopened tomorrow. We will go back to operating our vehicles. All out buses will be out and running," Henyard said.

The board also defied Henyard, voting to put two of her associates on leave with pay and to hire independent auditors to probe their work.

READ MORE | Activist out of police custody after confronting Dolton trustee over sexual assault allegations

But the abrupt, violent end to the evening left residents upset.

There have been no reports of any serious injuries in this incident.

South Holland police said officers responded to the Thornton Township building "upon reports of a fight between two individuals. However, those individuals had dispersed from the scene prior to police arrival, so no arrests were made."

ABC7 also spoke with Henyard's attorney, who said he might have a statement later.

The meeting came the day after former Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot delivered a scathing report to Dolton's board of trustees, alleging a pattern of mismanagement and deception by Henyard, who is also Dolton's mayor. Henyard's attorney has not commented on the report.

Lightfoot said Henyard and members of her administration have routinely kept Dolton trustees in the dark about large expenditures including for travel, meals at local restaurants and purchases at various retailers.

And Lightfoot says her months-long investigation uncovered similar practices in Thornton Township.

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