DOLTON, Ill. (CBS) — Clashes intensified in the southern suburb of Dolton on Monday evening as embattled leaders were confronted angry residents– and members of their own village council.
Meanwhile, for the first time, a woman who claims she was sexually assaulted by a village administrator spoke in public.
Residents came out early Monday evening for the scheduled meeting of the Dolton Village Board of Trustees. They have a whole host of concerns, including expenses, FBI subpoenas and… lawsuit from the former village worker– who claims she was sexually assaulted by Trustee Andrew Holmes during a village-funded trip to Las Vegas.
Outside the village hall, angry residents gathered – and surrounded the woman, Fenia Dukes, who said she was the person who was sexually assaulted on the trip last year.
“I wasn’t prepared to talk today, but to see all of you, this is very overwhelming,” Dukes said. At first it was like I was alone, and a year later I saw you all standing next to me.”
Dukes filed a civil lawsuit claiming that Holmes – also a well-known community activist – violated her while attending the village conference in Las Vegas last May.
The allegations have led to calls from community members and other activists to demand that Holmes step down immediately.
Dolton’s concerns are broad.
Before the meeting Monday night, the community waited more than an hour to speak out. This was the first meeting since the The FBI has sent the village two subpoenas– in an investigation that many believe revolves around controversial mayor Tiffany Henyard and her lack of transparency.
“You’re going to jail,” one woman told Henyard. “The FBI came down and raided this place. You can continue to lie on TikTok and everything else and say it wasn’t raided. But you were robbed.’
One by one, Henyard listened as people expressed their outrage at her and her government.
“The nerve of all of you to come out to us when you have no respect for us,” said one resident.
Many who wanted to speak were forced to wait outside because the room was completely full.
“As a trustee, we want to continue to demand transparency, no matter how frustrating things can get,” said Dolton Village Trustee Brittney Norwood.
Mayor Henyard offered a slideshow as she tried to highlight her achievements. Some walked out as the slideshow was shown, while others turned around.
“So you can understand that your town is in danger because of the people’s hatred of your mayor,” Henyard said.
Henyard said the FBI investigation and outrage from some in the community are nothing more than outsiders trying to portray her in a bad light.
“At the end of the day, guys — I say this and I mean it — we still have to live here,” Henyard said. “If they leave, we have to fix what’s broken.”
Holmes was not present at the meeting. He previously said he cannot talk about the lawsuit accusing him of sexual assault.
In the meantime, there was one assignment that the mayor did complete on Monday evening. She quickly vetoed the board’s decision hire former Chicago mayor Lori Lightfoot to investigate hersaying, “How dare you think you can come into someone’s town and do research? You don’t get paid.”
Jermont Terry
