A Philadelphia grassroots activist criticized the city council during public comment over a proposed resolution honoring Jerome Richardson, an anti-ICE rioter, arguing that the measure ignores federal law and local priorities.

John alonte McCauley, who identified himself as part of the organization Flip Philly red, addressed council members directly.

“Good morning, everybody. My name is John alonte McCauley. I'm with a grassroots organization called Flip Philly red. We're here to bring you something different, because you've been voting Democrat for the Mayor's Office for the past 70 years,” McCauley said.

McCauley focused his remarks on Richardson, disputing claims that Richardson’s First Amendment rights were violated.

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“In regards to Jerome Richardson, his First Amendment right was not violated. In fact, he committed a federal crime, namely the FACE Act, which protects access to places of religioun, religious places from interference and obstruction,” he said.

He further alleged that Richardson violated additional federal law.

“He also committed a conspiracy Act, which plot, which he plotted to deprive people of practicing religion in church service, so his first amendment was not violated,” McCauley stated.

“This conspiracy act is also called the KKK act. It deprived from the Enforcement Act, which actually came from a Republican president by the name of Ulysses Ulysses S. Grant.”

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McCauley referenced the historical origins of that legislation.

“The reason why he had to put this in here is because the Ku Klux Klan, which came from the Democrat Party, was using force and intimidation to stop black Americans from voting,” he said.

During his remarks, McCauley also accused council members of violating his own First Amendment rights during a previous meeting. “You guys, every single one of you, violated my First Amendment two weeks ago when y'all cut my mic short and y'all want to sit up here and cry for Jerome Richardson,” he said.

He criticized council members for focusing on national political issues instead of local concerns.

“You guys are worried about what's going on with tampon Tim in Minnesota, when we got problems here in Philadelphia that you need to be worried about,” McCauley said.

Calling the proposed measure misguided, McCauley added, “This is a silly resolution that I saw names like co sponsored on there, President Kenyatta, Jamie Gutierrez, Kendra Brooks. Goofy, every single one of you, goofy.”

He concluded by raising concerns about the city’s public education system.

“We got a Philadelphia School District that ranks at the bottom 22% in entire Pennsylvania. Yeah, turn your back,” McCauley said.

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