Downriver official slammed at council session after social media post

Residents of Downriver spoke out on the assembly of town council of September 22 Wyandotte with numerous calling metropolis councilor of Wyandotte Todd Hanna to resign after screenshots of Social Media Posts got here up the week earlier than.

Hanna shared a Fb message through which he referred to as Late-Evening Present gastsheer Jimmy Kimmel as a result of he mentioned a “outright lie” in regards to the man who shot Conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was murdered on 10 September at an occasion at Utah Valley College. Kimmel made a remark about his present, suggesting that Maga supporters of President Donald Trump attempt to benefit from Kirk’s dying.

“The Maga Gang (IS) desperately tries to characterize this boy that Charlie Kirk has killed as one thing aside from certainly one of them and all the pieces they’ll do to attain political factors,” mentioned Kimmel in his present.

Some Utah and federal officers have mentioned that Kirk’s alleged assassin grew up in a conservative family in South Utah, however had adopted the left -wing ideology.

Hanna was then a part of the commentary a part of his message about Kimmel, in order that the next remark was left:

“I attempt to preserve my mouth shut, however if you lie and lie reverse the reality, you’re a piece of s -. This younger man went too far to the left, and his dad and mom couldn’t save him and he went out with a transgender individual and so they have been each sexually confused and hates somebody as an alternative of speaking. Fu shoots down.

The screenshot that circulated on-line from the unique remark doesn’t present it, which has since been eliminated. Hanna mentioned he didn’t take away the remark himself.

Hanna’s response

Through the council assembly of September 22, Hanna arose throughout the assembly of the assembly from his chair as the primary speaker in public. He mentioned that if individuals wished to speak to him in regards to the incident, they must attain him to arrange a gathering.

“I apologize to everybody who thought I’d name for violence towards each group of individuals, that is simply not true. Half of the submit is lacking and folks get my phrases out of the context,” mentioned Hanna.

He requested assembly guests to maintain their phrases associated to metropolis corporations.

“We do not make nationwide or federal choices,” he mentioned.

Hanna mentioned his political opinions “do” from a municipal council assembly.

“Sure, I’m a Republican and a Catholic, however that does not matter right here and I’ve tried to deal with this typically through the years. I work for the residents and I work arduous on this chosen place of the native authorities,” he mentioned. ‘In case you name me, I cannot ask you:’ Are you a Republican or are you a democrat? ‘I assist all individuals and I do not care about your sexual orientation, pronouns, colour of your pores and skin; I simply need to assist individuals. “

Hanna defined it additional, whereas he doesn’t apologize for the intention of his operate or his beliefs, he apologizes for using the phrase ‘homicide’ in his submit as an alternative of ‘execution’.

Neighborhood Response

Joanna Whaley lives in Lincoln Park and got here to the assembly as a result of she runs to grow to be a Michigan consultant within the second district. Whaley is a transgender girl and referred to as Hanna’s feedback hateful.

“We anticipate it in Washington, we anticipate it in Lansing, however we do not need it in our native city halls. So I raised at this time as you nervous neighbor for the resignation of Todd Hanna at this time,” she mentioned.

Through the name from Whaley for the resignation of Hanna, the group that attended the assembly broke in applause.

Richard Misser, a resident of Wyandotte, mentioned he was offended by the submit as a result of Michigan is just not the dying penalty.

“This isn’t a dying penalty. This isn’t Utah and I’m on an offense and that’s all I’ll say,” mentioned Misser. “The remainder of what you wrote exhibits quite a lot of your character, sir.”

Ryan begins, the director of the non -profit proud in Downriver, mentioned that Hanna’s feedback have been harmful for transgender individuals within the space.

“Transgender individuals are not strangers on this metropolis. They’re our household, our buddies, our colleagues and our neighbors,” mentioned starting. “When the general public language throws us as harmful or irregular, it not solely defends it at risk. It makes it simpler for others to justify hatred, intimidation and violence and when that language comes from chosen officers … bears much more weight.”

Resident of Wyandotte Patrick Masell mentioned it blame Kirk’s dying of Transgender individuals for extra violence.

“Your phrases right here have quite a lot of which means within the metropolis of Wyandotte,” mentioned Masell. “Characterize your neighborhood as an entire, not solely those that assume and act such as you … Use your voice loudly to reveal hateful rhetoric and if the thought causes your discomfort, think about leaving your seats.”

On the finish of talking in public, Vivianna Surma went the stage and started to say that she has a transgender baby, and that she can also be a Republican and a Catholic, as Hanna described earlier.

“I do not assume the place I’m going to church, they’d admire your feedback, however that’s my opinion. I worry my kid’s life, my baby is my baby. It isn’t what he’s that I like him, it’s who he’s and he’s a greater person who many individuals we’re surrounded by,” she mentioned. “He doesn’t assist younger individuals commit suicide. I lose asleep right here each night time. Do you assume?

Chosen officers communicate out

In direction of the tip of the general public remark, councilor Chris Calvin left his seat of the council and went to the general public stage to share his ideas in regards to the state of affairs. He mentioned he didn’t agree with the place and that as civil servants all the pieces they do and say is public.

“You haven’t any privateness so far as it goes,” mentioned Calvin. “We’re chosen for everybody in Wyandotte, not simply the few and we needed to be cautious with what we are saying once we are there.”

Councilor Adriana Cerulla additionally went to talk on the general public stage, and mentioned that the feedback of the feedback don’t replicate her values ​​or the best way through which she believes that civil servants ought to symbolize Wyandotte.

“I am unable to agree with these feedback and silence on the topic in good conscience. I need our neighborhood to know that in case your chief I exploit right here to help you all and to make sure that each individual right here and in our whole metropolis feels secure, appreciated and revered,” she mentioned. “Wyandotte is a various metropolis and that’s certainly one of our largest strengths right here. My promise is to you to maintain working for a neighborhood the place all of the voices are heard and all individuals are welcome and I apologize that I’ve not mentioned something earlier than.”

Earlier than talking in public, Mayor of Wyandotte Rob Desana reminded residents that the one approach through which a councilor might be eliminated is a dismissal or the voter -oriented recall.

“I’ll remind you that chosen officers are entitled to their very own views and that they don’t symbolize town of Wyandotte or the remainder of town council after they communicate in a private discussion board, together with their very own social media channels,” Desana mentioned.

From September 22, the Wayne County Clerk’s workplace had no formal recall actions that had been pulled towards Hanna.

Wyandotte Metropolis Councils Robert Alderman and Patrick Sutka have been additionally current throughout the assembly, however didn’t remark. Councilor Kelly Stec was absent.

Initially revealed: September 24, 2025 at 9:53 AM EDT