Alachua County Republican Party Chairman Tim Marden recently sent a letter to city of Gainesville Attorney Daniel Nee, claiming City Commissioner Casey Willits “directly contributed to the escalation of tension and hostility toward citizen Jeremy Clepper” at the School Board of Alachua County (SBAC) meeting on July 31.
Clepper was among more than 30 people who spoke at the meeting in reference to controversial Facebook comments made by SBAC Chair Sarah Rockwell about the July 24 death of pro wrestler Hulk Hogan.
Most of the remarks made by teachers, parents and citizens were supportive of Rockwell; however, there were a few commenters, including Clepper, who disagreed with her actions.
While standing at the podium facing the dais, Clepper said Rockwell should resign if she has “a shred of integrity.”
Clepper concluded his remarks by going full blast against Rockwell.
“You’re a Ph.D., aren’t you? A highly educated woman that knows the exact meaning behind her words. Aren’t you? You know what I said, and you should step down. You’re a disgusting, vile human being,” he said.
Those comments resulted in a response from members of the audience as Clepper returned to his seat. He can be heard in the YouTube broadcast calling out to the crowd before sitting down.
Willits was standing to the left of the podium while Clepper was speaking, awaiting his turn to comment.
Willits approached the podium as Clepper walked back to his seat.
At this point, Vice Chair Tina Certain, who was moderating the meeting, can be heard calling for SBAC Attorney David Delaney before asking for the deputies.
As an Alachua County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) deputy approached Clepper at his seat, Certain can be heard saying, “wait just a second, Casey …” before then proceeding to say, “Sir, I’m going to ask you to be removed from the auditorium.”
Clepper stood up and asked the deputy, “This is a public space, right?”
The crowd began to clap as Clepper complied and walked away with the deputy.
As Clepper was walking away, Delaney can be heard telling the board, “I do not recommend that.”
Certain pivots, saying, “our attorney asks us not to remove him [Clepper].”
The crowd then gets louder. Certain tries to speak and a deputy asks the audience to be quiet.
As Certain attempts to speak again, one person in the crowd can be heard saying, “he needs to go.”
“The attorney said that he doesn’t have to be removed,” Certain exclaimed, as members of the audience shouted, “get out!” repeatedly.
Certain’s remarks came around the 1:55:05 mark of the YouTube video.
In his letter, dated Saturday, Marden references the 1:55:12 point of the broadcast, which shows Willits grab the microphone at the podium and yell, “Protect our board members, officers! Protect our board members!” as he pointed at Clepper.
Marden noted that 11 seconds later, Willits turned and handed the microphone to Faye Williams, who was sitting behind Willits, before standing up and shouting toward the dais.
As she grabbed the microphone, Williams, a social justice activist from Gainesville, can be heard saying, “This is our meeting. Get out, get out, get out!”
Williams can then be heard calling Clepper a “white supremacist” before saying, “put his ass out [of the auditorium].”
“By handing the microphone to Williams, who was already shouting, Commissioner Willits inserted himself into the situation and made it worse,” Marden wrote in the letter. “Had this meeting erupted further, Commissioner Casey Willits would have been at least partially to blame.”
In the letter, Marden suggested that Nee discuss and document with Willits “any potential personal and professional ramifications of his actions.”
Mainstreet reached out to Willits Tuesday for comment on the letter but had not heard back by the end of the business day.
From all that, to complain about the city commissioner? They’re using all the hands to grasp at the tiniest straw.
When the worst inside someone is brought front and center and always with the caveat “they or them are the reason” No, you are the one with the rot inside your character. Own it.
Why is it so easy for people to take sides slanted in one direction or another, when we are all human and we all make mistakes? It’s all too easy to criticize someone you disagree with. What would the world be like if we held each other up and gave each other some slack? For those worried about “integrity” it might be a good idea to take a look in the mirror.
The only real error that was made during the meeting disruption was by whoever was controlling the public microphone. As soon as anyone started speaking prior to being recognized by the chair, that mic should immediately be cut until order was restored. Ms Williams, in particular, was using the mic to be at least as disruptive as Clepper. Willits should also be well aware of meeting protocol.
Having said that, the Republican’s “outrage” over a snarky remark by Rockwell is now epically ridiculous. To those leading the charge, like Marden and Kamoutsas, I’ll just quote Jeremy – “You are a disgusting human being”.
One thing is absolute, that is the outright hate and pig headedness of my party. I am registered in Alachua county as a ________. Anyone care to guess please
My party mostly consists of closed minded, lemmings. If your opinion doesn’t square up with theirs than you are the problem that must be silenced.
I thought Sara Rockwell should resign now I add Tina Certain and Casey Willets. Obviously the Democrats in Alachua County do not want dissenting opinions. Conservatives are afraid of speaking out at Government meetings here knowing how they will be harassed.
Cancel is a core value of todays Democrstic party
First amendment RIGHTS!
RESIST FASCIST GOP!!!