Protesters show up at board meeting, continue call for Mississippi mayor's resignation

There wasn't enough room at Petal City Hall on Tuesday to hold the dozens of people who wanted to attend the Board of Aldermen's regular meeting. 

The board room was crammed with visitors from Petal and surrounding cities who wanted to air their frustration over the mayor's refusal to resign.

Mayor Hal Marx came under fire last week after posting on Twitter and Facebook, "If you can say you can’t breathe, you’re breathing. Most likely that man died of overdose or heart attack. Video doesn’t show his resistance that got him in that position. Police being crucified," referencing George Floyd's death and the police officer's actions.

Floyd died after he was pinned to the ground for at least eight minutes by a Minneapolis police officer on May 25.

Rally for change:Protesters call for ouster of Petal mayor over George Floyd death comments

The officer, Derek Chauvin, was charged with Floyd's murder. Three other officers were fired after the incident.

Floyd's death sparked protests across the country, some of which have turned violent with rioting and looting.

Around 100 people stood alone or in small groups outside, listening to the meeting on their smartphones and holding up signs of protest.

Those who could not get into City Hall talked quietly among themselves as they listened to the public comments inside. The crowd cheered in a show of support as each speaker left the meeting.

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One man stood up to defend the mayor, saying everyone makes mistakes.

The man looked around the room and said everyone has probably made a mistake or two at one time in their lives.

“This man and I, we never got along,” said Gerald Cavazos of Petal. “He made a bone-headed statement. But I do know he regrets what he said.” 

EXCLUSIVE:Mississippi Mayor Hal Marx speaks out about protests, calls for resignation

Others who commented said it didn’t matter whether Marx was sorry for his words, which some say are racist. A leader's words carry a heavier responsibility, they said.

"Public officials have to be held to a higher standard," said Dustin Powell, who was a student at Petal High when Marx was a teacher there. "I feel that as a teacher, you wouldn't have made that comment."

Powell said Marx's apology came with regrets for how it affected his family, but not how it affected his community. He said as a former student he had looked up to Marx.

"But we need you to step down, sir," he said.

Mississippi law:Here's why a mayor can't be ousted for tweet about George Floyd's death

Lorraine Bates of Petal, who has been walking in chains to City Hall every day even after the organized protests were over, asked if she would be safe outside City Hall when she protests.

"I'm going to keep protesting," she said. "As long as I have health I am going to protest. I want to know if I am going to be safe."

Anthony Dunn, who has been protesting outside the mayor's home, apologized for making Marx's wife and family uncomfortable, but he vowed to continue to put pressure on the mayor until he resigns.

"I don't know if you're a racist and I don't care if you're a racist," Dunn said. "I'm not here to judge you. What I am concerned about was you didn't have the man in you to apologize and state that you do not speak for these people."

George Floyd protests:How did we get here?

The meeting followed three days of protests and a special meeting by the Board of Aldermen asking Marx to step down.

A petition on change.org calling for the mayor’s resignation had more than 18,000 signatures by Tuesday evening. Petal has a population of around 11,000.

Contact Lici Beveridge at 601-584-3104 or lbeveridge@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @licibev or Facebook at facebook.com/licibeveridge.