CLARKSDALE, Miss. — Tempers flared during a meeting at the City Hall in Clarksdale where things got so bad a Commissioner ended up in handcuffs.
Mayor Bill Luckett had Ward 3 Commissioner Buster Moton physically removed Tuesday, after disrupting a board meeting and refusing to follow procedure and protocol.
It’s the second time the Mayor has had Commissioner Moton removed from a meeting for being disruptive and making unsolicited comments.
This time Moton was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest.
Moton told WREG he’s being treated unfairly because he often brings up the issue of racial disparity in Clarksdale.
Mayor Luckett disagreed and wants this recent situation to be the last of its kind in City Hall.
Video obtained for the meeting showed the moment Commissioner Moton allegedly went a little too far.
“One thing’s for sure,” he said in the video. “The Mayor gets whatever he wants to get…”
The Mayor quickly picked up the gavel and called for order, but Commissioner Moton wasn’t having any of it.
“Wait, I’m talking on this subject now,” he burst back.
Mayor Luckett said the outburst was the “tip of the iceberg.”
“We cannot conduct meetings in a civilized society with disruptions and rants, like Commissioner Moton seems to want to conduct,” he said.
Mayor Luckett said Moton frequently disrupts meetings by showing up late and not following procedure and protocol.
Tuesday when the Mayor tried to remind Moton to stick to the topic of discussion, things got worse.
“The final, precipitating cause of it was when he laid back in his chair and was doing this ‘Ya Suh.’ Like a plantation worker or something from the days of slavery,” said Mayor Luckett.
The Mayor had the Sargent at Arms physically remove Moton who appeared to fall while being led away.
Moton, who claimed he was pushed, said he doesn’t apologize for his comments or behavior.
Moton said the mayor’s actions were racially motivated and believed he was trying to keep him from voicing his opinion.
“The white administration, their plans are to always say that I’m out of order, ‘let him go fight it out down there with white judges. And they’re going to find him guilty and we won’t have to worry about him opening his mouth anymore,'”said Commissioner Moton.
The mayor said the meeting video has gone viral and people even called City Hall wanting Moton removed from office.
One of those voicing their concern was Deacon John Brown, who lived in Moton’s Ward.
He said Moton needed to stop playing the race card and do the job he was elected to do.
“We got a leader hollering about racism and all that garbage way back when I was a boy. I’m 75-years-old and I don’t need to hear that mess,” said Brown.
Commissioner Moton said he had no plans on stepping down and won’t change his behavior.
He was also charged with public intoxication.
Moton was scheduled to be back in court June 30.
