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This Brooklyn Democratic Party County Committee meeting was an anti-democratic disgrace. Shame on the leaders of the party, who ignored legitimate questions from reformers, tried to get the cops to eject people, insulted dissenters, and pushed through Bichotte-Hermelyn's power grab. 📷🧵

The meeting started hours late, after which party leaders repeatedly ignored questions about proxy votes and whether procedural rules had been followed while pushing through votes to validate Bichotte-Hermelyn's power grab. District Leader and reformer Akel Williams' expression kind of says it all.

Assembly member @joannesimonbk52.bsky.social tore into the presiding officers, noting that among other things, a copy of the amendments considered had not been distributed five days before as required. I've never seen her so mad.

"Just so you know, you gotta follow the rules, Anthony! You gotta follow the rules. You didn't follow the rules." @joannesimonbk52.bsky.social addressing District Leader Anthony Beckford, who was presiding over the meeting.

Several times during the meeting, Anthony Beckford asked for members of the audience to be removed. The cops weren't particularly happy about being involved. They did not end up removing anyone.

District Leader Akel Williams deescalating.

Brooklyn Democratic Party Chair Rodnyse Bichotte Hermelyn did not show her face at the meeting, even though party leaders devoted the meeting to pushing through her power grab agenda.

A shocking exchange during which Renee Collymore insulted Akel Williams from the stage using the word "plantation."

Williams seemed genuinely horrified, shocked, and hurt by Collymore's "plantation" comment. That's District Leader Shaquana Boykin, another reformer, leading Williams away at the end.

Renee Collymore later said "I stand by what I said" when Williams asked her again about her "plantation" comment. I don't have words.

This picture says a lot, if you ask me.

The @newkingsdems.bsky.social held a rally before the meeting with @jumaane.bsky.social and other Brooklyn electeds. Highly recommend following the @newkingsdems.bsky.social if you care about reforming the Brooklyn Democratic Party.

Samantha Rijkers, Campaign Director for Rep Your Block. You can sign up to be a county committee member through Rep Your Block here: www.repyourblock.com I did that! Was proud to try! But at the meeting, Bichotte Hermelyn's faction invalidated my appointment (and those of a bunch of others).

Given the fact that the party leaders ran votes to elevate their own faction's appointees over a bunch of reformer appointees with no transparency about who those appointees actually were, this felt like a slap in the face. 🤷

@jumaane.bsky.social, District Leader @juliopenabk.com (who would be the new Brooklyn Party Chair if not for the power grab), @cmcrystalhudson.bsky.social, and assembly member Monique Chandler-Waterman at the @newkingsdems.bsky.social rally.

District leaders Diana Gonzalez and Ilyssa Meyer speaking up at the Brooklyn Democratic Party's fiasco of a meeting. Worth noting, I can't remember a single Bichotte Hermelyn supporter speaking up at the meeting. But her faction dominated every vote via 800 or more proxies.

City Council member @sandynurse.bsky.social spoke in favor of the reformers at the rally before the meeting.

@tonymelone.bsky.social of the @newkingsdems.bsky.social emceeing the rally.

If you wanna help the @newkingsdems.bsky.social fight the Brooklyn Democratic Party in court, you can donate here: www.newkingsdemocrats.com/legal_fees_d...