Cleveland City Council’s Safety Committee meeting took an abrupt turn on Wednesday after Chair Mike Polensek brought up disruptions to council meetings by pro-Palestinian protesters.

Public Safety Director Karrie Howard and other city officials attended the meeting to discuss changes in two police union contracts that would increase officers’ pay and move them to 12-hour shifts. The committee approved the proposed union contract legislation, moving it to a full council vote. 

Council Member Joe Jones and Polensek then told Howard they felt unsafe at Monday night’s meeting and called for more security.

Polensek said Monday night’s council meeting “outraged” him. Some protesters, who filled Council chambers on Monday night, called council members “murderers and killers and supporters of genocide,” he said.

During the last five council meetings, public commenters have criticized Mayor Justin Bibb’s statement posted on X – the social media platform formerly known as Twitter – in support for Israel. Many have called for a resolution demanding a ceasefire. Twice protesters filling the chambers have disrupted the meeting. 

“We’re gonna have to really take a good, hard look at security,” Polensek said. “Folks that are making threats against members of the body, they’re gonna have to be dealt with.”

Howard said the department put special safety measures in place for the last few meetings, including additional police officers at City Hall. On Monday, 25 to 30 officers were assigned to the meeting. 

“Expressions of the First Amendment oftentimes make us uncomfortable,” Howard said.  “Expressions of the First Amendment are often loud and disruptive. And our officers are there to do and carry out their duties constitutionally and within the realm of the law. And we will continue to do so.” 

Jones asked to respond. He said public comment exists so citizens can talk about issues before the council. 

“But that circus, and that mob-like attitude and mentality that came into the meeting last Monday, was unacceptable,” Jones said. 

In response, Council Member Stephanie Howse-Jones said council should figure out what they can do to be supportive of people. 

“We are in a time when people are at a level of real pain and anger, and … it does not help to minimize the real pain and trauma people are going through,” she said.  

Jones said he has also experienced trauma, yet he is civil when he’s in City Hall. He said the Monday night meeting made him feel so unsafe he is considering buying a gun. 

“I’m not gonna come up here and let you disturb my peace,” he said.

Jones said people at the meeting told him they support Hamas.

Howse-Jones interrupted him. 

“That is not what people are saying,” she said as Jones continued to talk. “Hamas is a terrorist organization, and when you’re talking about Palestinians, those are two different groups. So stop doing that. That’s ignorant.”

Polensek had to talk over Jones and Howse-Jones to approve the measures in Wednesday’s agenda and adjourn the meeting. 

Jones and Howse-Jones continued shouting, calling each other rude and disrespectful, as people left the meeting room.

In a follow-up interview with Jones, he clarified to Signal Cleveland his comment about considering getting a gun. 

“You cannot bring a gun to the chamber or to council meetings at all,” Jones said. “But it has made me look at … further protection.”