Some have taken to social media to remember the life and legacy of Flint, Michigan City Councilman Eric Mays, who passed away on Saturday at 65.
While the late councilman is remembered as an activist who advocated for Flint’s majority-Black residents during the city’s deadly water crisis, he also built a reputation for his memorable and sometimes controversial antics and comments during council meetings.
Here’s a look at some of Mays’ top moments during his decade-long tenure on the Flint City Council as a representative for 1st Ward.
“Did she just call me a TikTok performer?”
During a public meeting, Mays had a fiery exchange with a fellow City Council member when he was accused of being a “TikTok performer.”
In a viral TikTok video, fellow councilwoman Ladel Lewis says, “No one was elected to be a TikTok performer. Good luck with that. But, while you’re here, you need to maintain decorum. We need to speak to the appropriate resolutions…”
Appearing offended by the remarks, Mays responded, “Did she just call me a TikTok performer, and I’m a serious council member?”
“Is that derogatory?” he questioned. “You jealous or something?”
“Some type of arsonist”
During another incident, Mays got into a heated discussion with a female council member who called him a “gaslighter.”
In a nearly 3-minute video shared on social media, Mays was taken aback by how his colleague addressed him.
She stated, “I will not allow you to gaslight this community” and then she proceeded to instruct Mays to look up the word after he appeared to be unsure of the word’s meaning.
Mays quickly fired back, “Watch yourself.”
Later in the video, the late councilman reacted to the councilmember’s remarks: “When you dog me out and interrupt me and tell me I’m a gaslighter, I’m thinking that’s some type of arsonist.”
“Don’t use no more adjectives towards me. You can shake your head…
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