Broadview mayor declares ‘civil emergency,’ moves board meetings online

Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson declared a “civil emergency” in the suburb, citing threats by protesters to disrupt the town’s board of trustees meeting, as well as threats against her and Village Hall in recent months.

The executive order will keep board of trustees meetings online until the mayor determines the “imminent threat to village officials and property is no longer present.”

In a statement Monday, Thompson said a death threat was made against her in October and a bomb threat was called into Broadview Village Hall in September.

Thompson also said four officers who were injured while responding to protests outside the Broadview ICE facility over the weekend added to the “growing” threats. State, county and local police arrested 21 protesters, including clergy, who say they also sustained injuries, over the weekend.

“The order is designed to preserve the continuity of governance in light of the imminent threats against the lives of village officials and public property,” Thompson said. “I will not allow threats of violence or intimidation to disrupt the essential functions of our government, and I will not allow other elected officials, village hall staff or residents to be placed in harm’s way, which is why I signed a civil emergency executive order to ensure we can conduct the public’s business securely and without fear of violence.”

Earlier this month, Thompson ended a tension-filled Broadview board meeting after several protesters expressed anger and frustration toward her and Broadview police during the public comment period, saying that by removing an aid tent and restricting protest hours, they weren’t protecting free speech and failing to work alongside protesters against ICE.

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