Emotions run high at Duluth City Council Meeting

DULUTH, Minn. — Monday’s Duluth City Council meeting continued discussions around civility in the chambers and respecting each other’s views.

This was the first council meeting since some in the audience chose to jeer and speak over councilors two weeks ago.

Some councilors took that meeting as a boiling point on issues of disrespect and feeling threatened by audience members.

Monday night, that was toned down, and many at the podium called for each other, including councilors, to be less divisive and hear each other out while following Robert’s rules of order.

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Mayor Roger Reinert was in attendance for the evening’s meeting and spoke on the history of government, what it stands for, and how all voices should feel welcomed at the podium of the council chambers.

One Duluth resident expressed her feelings after her time at the podium.

“When I turned around after my three minutes, I saw that my friends and neighbors had actually stood up and turned their backs”, said Duluth Resident Barb Montee.

Another Duluth resident, Brandon Parker, said, “It’s a natural response to consistently feeling powerless, unheard, dismissed, and constantly talked down to.”

A couple of speakers did have a brief verbal altercation in the audience, which was interrupted by security in the hallway, and resulted in a 5-minute recess.