'You wanna go outside right now?' Mayor flips out during council meeting, angrily accuses attendee of same 'racism' he sees in community, police force

Lamar Thorpe — mayor of Antioch, California — flipped out during a city council meeting Tuesday, challenging an attendee to "go outside" and accusing the attendee of the same "racism" Thorpe said he sees in the community and police force.

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Antioch is a little over half an hour northeast of Oakland.

What are the details?

KRON-TV reported that among the discussion topics at the meeting were racist text messages city police allegedly sent each other regarding suspects under investigation.

The Contra Costa County district attorney has taken up the investigation with FBI assistance, the station added. Public Defender Ellen McDonnell said the messages purportedly are part of a “pervasive and troubling culture” at the department that potentially impacts thousands of cases, KRON said.

During public comments, the station said the attendee in question was heard complaining about the “poor job” the city council has been doing.

“Let’s get an audit of your text messages,” the attendee added toward the end of his comment time.

As the crowd rumbled following the man's statements, Thorpe banged his gavel and told everyone to “settle down." He also accused the attendee who had just spoken of “dog-whistle racism” and — now standing up and pointing his finger — called him “an apologist for what’s absolutely wrong with the city!”

Image source: YouTube screenshot

Jawing back could be heard, and then Thorpe appeared to challenge the man to a fight: “You wanna go outside right now? Let’s go! I am sick and tired of being attacked by these people in this community, apologizing for the racism that is going on in this community! You're the problem! You're the problem!

A lot of yelling from the audience can be heard as someone in the crowd yelled at the mayor, "You're a bum!"

But Thorpe hit right back: "Why don't you call me the N-word like the side you are supporting?"

Seconds later the mayor stood up and exited the meeting, slamming a door behind him as the proceedings went into recess.

KRON said the Antioch Herald identified the attendee in question as Sal Sbranti.

The station said Thorpe was elected mayor last November and has faced controversy, most notably when he was arrested for drunk driving in March 2022.

Mayor STORMS OUT of City Council Meeting After Complete MELTDOWNyoutu.be

Mayor doubles down

In a Wednesday interview with KPIX-TV, Thorpe doubled down on what he said at the meeting.

"I mean, there are people in this country who have been hosed down with fire hoses. There are people in this country who have had dogs attack them. There are people protesting and demonstrating," Thorpe told KPIX. "There are people in this country who were getting spit in their face for trying to desegregate lunch counters. And here I am standing up to one racist. There's nothing for me to regret or take back."

Antioch Police Chief Steven Ford on Thursday condemned racist and homophobic texts that have circulated reportedly among dozens of Antioch police officers, KPIX said: "I condemn in the strongest possible terms the racially abhorrent content and incomprehensible behavior being attributed to members of the Antioch Police Department in media reports.

At least eight Antioch officers were suspended in the past year, KPIX said, adding that Thorpe at the meeting said up to 24 officers are involved and "several" have been suspended.

Antioch Mayor Lamar Thorpe defends his angry outburst over the police racist text scandalyoutu.be

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