×

Councilman jokes of shooting rioters

ESCANABA — Despite uncertainties over the legality of large gatherings due to the pandemic, the Escanaba City Council voted to move forward with fireworks at the city’s planned Independence Day celebration after one council member proposed rules that included shooting violent protesters at the event.

“‘Any person throwing objects at police, shooting at anyone, looting and setting fires will be shot in both legs and left lying there till dawn, and at dawn, each person will need to crawl to the hospital,'” read Council Member Ralph Blasier from his proposed press release before adding, “I mean, this text for your public announcement, people might want to alter it some. This is just the first draft. If I were alone in charge of the city, this is what I would publish, but I can see where some people might, change it a little bit.”

The comment — which referenced violent protests across the nation in response to the death of George Floyd, a black man, who died after Derek Chauvin, a white Minneapolis Police officer, knelt on his neck for nearly nine minutes– was clearly intended as a joke. It fell flat with the rest of the council.

“Ralph, I want to thank you for finding one more way to get on the front page of the paper,” said Mayor Marc Tall.

A bit later in the meeting, Blasier further clarified his statement.

“I have a couple of comments on my own comment, I had four paragraphs. Three were absolutely, strictly, what I believe. The fourth, I understand, was a bit facetious, and I wouldn’t expect that if you put a publication out that you’d include the fourth paragraph,” he said.

The other three paragraphs of Blasier’s proposed press release set out guidelines for residents attending the planned fireworks display in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The release directed residents to know and follow Gretchen Whitmer’s latest executive order, for groups to not exceed 100 persons per family or non-family social group, for non-family groups to practice social distancing and wear masks, and suggested each group of up to 100 stay at least 12 feet away from any neighboring group so the city could differentiate groupings.

The 12-foot spacing between groups was just a recommendation. A distance of at least six feet — the same distance for social distancing within a group – was required between groups under Blasier’s proposal.

The council didn’t discuss the merits of Blasier’s plan, but did discuss whether or not moving forward with fireworks as planned was appropriate.

“If things hit the fan and we have some members of the community that like to point fingers when they have the chance to do that and make noise, it’s usually staff that takes the fall for it,” said City Manager Patrick Jordan. “You know, and I need this job, and my police chief needs his job, and you know, the recreation director needs her job, and we just wanted to bring this to the council and say, ‘is this something you want to move forward with and have these fireworks?'”

Council Member Karen Moore questioned whether it was prudent to cancel the display at this time when Whitmer was suggesting changes to regulations in the Upper Peninsula, such as allowing hair salons to open.

“Why do we have to make this decision right now? Why can’t we wait closer to the date because things might change. She might changer her mind and there might be different distancing rules for the U.P. than there is now,” she said.

Because the city staff were seeking guidance on whether or not to cancel the display scheduled for July 3, a vote was held to move forward with the plan at this time.

“I for one want to go ahead with fireworks. I believe the people will stay apart, but I also think that we all deserve a party on the Fourth of July and that’s my plan and where I’ll be on that day,” said Tall.

Should the city need to cancel the display in the future, the contract with the fireworks provider that the city entered into in January stipulates there will be a 10 percent cancellation fee. The total cost of the fireworks ordered by the city is $11,850.

City Recreation Director Kim Peterson informed the council that if the city was forced to cancel the show, she would try to seek a waiving of the fee as the pandemic was out of the city’s control.

“It never hurts to ask,” she said.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today