Latest news with #JosephPetty
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Worcester teen who died eating spicy chip to be honored with street
A Worcester teenager who died after eating a chip laced with some of the world's spiciest peppers will have a place in the city named after him. On June 3, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty and the Worcester City Council will unveil Harris Thompson Wolobah Way — which will be located on the corner of Shore Drive and South Frontage Road in front of the Greendale YMCA. The event will take place at 4 p.m., the mayor's office said in a statement. Wolobah, then 14, died in 2023 after taking part in the 'One Chip Challenge' by snack company Paqui. The challenge involves eating a chip laced with some of the world's spiciest peppers — Carolina Reapers and Naga Vipe. After his death, the chip was pulled from shelves. In 2024, a petition requesting an honorary street was filed and approved by the city council, the mayor's office told MassLive. A sign that designates the location as Harris Thompson Wolobah Way will be at the corner, according to the mayor's office. 'Although many remember him for the way he died, I believe that it is important the community remember the way he lived,' Petty said in a statement. 'Harris was a kind and caring young man from a great family. He loved basketball and he worked tirelessly to improve his skills. The Greendale YMCA was one of his favorite places to be, and this honorary street will ensure that his legacy of hard work, persistence, and kindness is not forgotten.' Following his death, Wolobah's family filed suit against Paqui in 2023. The case is still ongoing, according to court records. Wolobah has been honored with a vigil in Newton Square in 2023 and a basketball game in 2024. Here's where to see fireworks this weekend in Massachusetts WPI lays off 24 employees, citing rising costs and federal uncertainty Mass. weather: More rain coming this weekend. Here's when it's expected to be dry Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rally held outside Worcester City Council meeting to protest recent ICE arrests
Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty moved Tuesday's City Council meeting from in-person to be virtual for safety concerns, as dozens protested outside City Hall. 'They're taking our people from our community they're kidnapping them and detaining them to unknown places, these are our families,' said Mysti Green, an organizer of the protest with Worcester Indivisible. A large crowd gathered to protest before Worcester's City Council meeting Tuesday over concerns after a chaotic arrest involving ICE agents and Worcester Police was caught on camera last week on Eureka Street. 'I'm here because people are being dragged off the street,' said Gary Hunter, who joined the rally. Last week ICE arrested a Brazilian woman who they say is here illegally and wanted for assault and battery. While trying to detain her, others tried to stop police, like Ashley Spring. She was then arrested for assaulting police officers. 'What I see here in Worcester today and nearly every day since an armed and masked man have been abducting people from the community is a community that's not giving up its power without a fight,' said Spring to the crowd Tuesday. Many were also upset to see the teenage daughter arrested when she went after police for arresting her mother. 'What would you do if your mother was being taken, you would chase the car, you would try to stop them and two police officers, big ones, threw her on the ground and pushed her face into the ground, this is not America that I know,' said Hunter. Mayor Petty says he decided to move Tuesday's city council meeting to Zoom for safety reasons after city leaders received threatening messages of violence. 'It is such a cowardly move to close the doors of a building we pay for to prevent us from being heard and from being seen, if they believe they can evade public accountability, they will take that opportunity, but this stunt is just going to make us louder,' said Spring. Even though the city council meeting was virtual, there was an extended period for public comment, and dozens of people called into the meeting to voice their concerns. 'I feel they're scared to come here and face us,' said Green. One of the big things people are asking for is to make sure the Worcester Police Department doesn't help ICE agents with their arrests, and to allow for due process for everyone. Worcester Police say they responded to that scene to keep the peace. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Is Worcester breaking Open Meeting Law by going virtual? What the AG's office says
The City of Worcester announced Monday that Tuesday night's city council meeting and standing committee on finance meeting would be held virtually instead of at City Hall 'out of an abundance of caution' regarding 'public safety concerns.' The city hall itself will be closed to the public at 5 p.m., per the notification. In a statement released on Tuesday morning, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said that the change in venue is due to 'threats of violence' made to elected and city officials. Petty said tensions in the city have been high since a Brazilian woman was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Eureka Street last Thursday. Following the incident, the 'events of the last few days ... have been deeply disturbing and raised many questions,' the mayor said. 'As a result, many people — regardless of their viewpoint — are frustrated and angry.' 'Unfortunately, elected and city officials have received threats of violence,' Petty continued. 'City employees and department heads have also faced threatening calls and emails. It is important to remember that the people that keep city hall alive are just that — they are people. Employees have shared concerns about their safety." The announcement of the change in venue was made public less than 48 hours before the meeting, raising the question as to whether the city violated the state's Open Meeting Law. Guidance on holding meetings remotely under a continuation of COVID-19 measures in Massachusetts reads that meetings, including meeting locations, need to be posted at least 48 hours in advance — that's true even if the meeting is taking place remotely. Section 20 of the law states that, except in the case of an emergency, 'a public body shall post notice of every meeting at least 48 hours prior to the meeting, excluding Saturdays, Sundays and legal holidays.' According to the Massachusetts Attorney General's office, a public body, in this case the city council, is allowed to change venues and post an amended notice at least 48 hours in advance. However, if a meeting location is changed less than 48 hours in advance, the public body needs to provide the public with sufficient notice of the location change. Additionally, a public body should also publicize the location through whatever channels it uses to communicate with the public, according to the Attorney General's office. Examples of these channels include automated email notifications, social media platforms and online messaging boards, according to the Attorney General's office. The public body must also be able to provide a rapid response to any email or phone inquiries from the public about meeting access. Monday's announcement of the venue change was publicized by the city on social media platforms such as X, Instagram and Facebook. On the city's website, a notification about Tuesday's meeting is highlighted at the top of the webpage. Clicking on the notification will bring the viewer to the full statement from the city along with a Zoom link, access code and telephone number to call into the meeting. 'In order to ensure active public engagement, remote participation for both meetings is available through at the City Council's Zoom link,' the statement reads. A protest at City Hall against the actions of ICE and the Worcester Police Department is set to take place on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. The protesters will demand that the city council request City Manager Eric D. Batista write a new policy for the Worcester Police Department that would prevent them from becoming involved in ICE operations, according to organizer Jim Miller of Worcester. Protesters had planned to attend the city council meeting in person and speak during the meeting's public comment period, Miller said. He confirmed to MassLive on Tuesday that the protest is still on for 5:30 and that some rally members will speak at the city council meeting remotely. Worcester judge sets trial date for woman detained by ICE on separate charge Worcester mayor says council meeting will be remote due to 'threats of violence' Worcester City Council meeting to be held virtually 'due to public safety concerns' Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Worcester mayor says council meeting will be remote due to ‘threats of violence'
Tuesday night's city council meeting in Worcester will be fully remote due to 'threats of violence' made to elected and city officials, Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said. In a statement released Tuesday morning, Petty said tensions in the city have been high since a Brazilian woman was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Eureka Street last Thursday. The incident has caused public outcry in the days since. Since the incident, the 'events of the last few days ... have been deeply disturbing and raised many questions,' Petty said. 'As a result, many people — regardless of their viewpoint — are frustrated and angry.' 'Unfortunately, elected and city officials have received threats of violence,' Petty continued. 'City employees and department heads have also faced threatening calls and emails. It is important to remember that the people that keep city hall alive are just that — they are people. Employees have shared concerns about their safety." With 'the hope that the many questions raised can be answered,' Petty chose to make Tuesday night's meeting fully remote 'in the hope of easing tensions and to provide more time to get information to the community,' he said. 'I recognize that some do not agree with this decision, but as mayor I feel it is my responsibility to keep people safe as we seek to bring people together and get answers,' Petty concluded. The city made a similar announcement Monday night, that the meeting will be held virtually 'out of an abundance of caution' regarding 'public safety concerns.' The decision to make the meeting virtual comes after grassroots political organizers announced plans to hold a rally at the Worcester City Council meeting on Tuesday. Organizers were set to protest ICE's detainment of Rosane Ferreira De-Oliveira in Worcester, as well as Worcester police's arrest of a second woman and a girl both accused by police of disrupting law enforcement action during the incident. Officials plan to close City Hall at 5 p.m. and hold the 6:30 p.m. City Council meeting via Zoom. There will be an opportunity for remote public participation, and citizens can join through the City Council's Zoom link or by calling 1-646-828-7666 and entering access code: 161 363 1913. Worcester City Council meeting to be held virtually 'due to public safety concerns' Protest planned at Worcester City Hall over ICE, police actions Worcester police unions say councilor assaulted officers. Here's what videos show Read the original article on MassLive.
New York Post
10-05-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Mass. ICE arrest disrupted by unruly crowd —including woman trying to block cop car while holding newborn
A tense video emerged of a Massachusetts ICE arrest being disrupted by a crowd of about 25 people in what police are calling a 'chaotic incident.' Footage captured Thursday in Worcester shows a group of residents chanting 'don't take the mother!' and 'no warrant!' after a woman was led into an SUV by uniformed ICE and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents. Advertisement Before the vehicle can pull away, other women are seen placing their hands on the front hood of an SUV and screaming in protest. At one point, a CBP agent and a bystander start shoving each other as he tried to move her away from the SUV. The vehicle eventually leaves the area after the Worcester Police Department arrived and declared an unlawful assembly, threatening arrest. 'I am disturbed to hear about today's events involving ICE. As someone who prides themselves on leading a welcoming city, I am devastated to hear about the separation of a family, especially with Mother's Day around the corner,' Joseph Petty, the city's Democratic mayor, wrote on X. Advertisement 'The fear of ICE tearing a family apart is the worst nightmare of so many in our city. I have asked the City Manager for a full report of the incident. We were not notified by ICE about the detainment. Simply put, we cannot have this happen in our community,' he added. 3 A new video emerged of an arrest made by ICE in Massachusetts, where a disrputed crowd of around 25 people gathered in what police are calling a 'chaotic incident.' @iwontstealthemooniswear_ via Storyful U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. The Worcester Police Department said it responded to the area of Eureka Street around 11:13 a.m. 'for a report of a federal agent who was surrounded by a large group of about twenty-five people.' Advertisement 'We also received a call from someone saying that ICE officers were on scene and refusing to show a warrant to the crowd. Worcester Police officers responded to preserve the peace and prevent anyone from being injured,' the department said. However, when officers arrived, 'they observed a chaotic scene with several federal agents from various agencies attempting to take a female into custody,' according to the Worcester Police Department. 3 Before the vehicle drove away, multiple women were placing their hands on the front of the SUV. @iwontstealthemooniswear_ via Storyful 'Federal agents had placed this female under arrest and were attempting to leave in a vehicle. The crowd was unruly, and several people were putting their hands on federal agents and Worcester officers in an attempt to keep the vehicle and the arrestee from leaving. Worcester officers attempted to deescalate the situation and keep everyone safe,' police continued. Advertisement 'As the vehicle went to pull away, a juvenile female had a newborn baby in her arms and was standing in front of the car with the newborn. Officers told her that she was endangering the child and that she needed to move. Eventually she complied and gave the newborn to someone else,' police also said. 'As the vehicle moved away, she ran after the vehicle and kicked the passenger's side of it. It appeared that she was going to run in front of the moving vehicle, and officers took her into custody.' That woman has been charged with Reckless Endangerment of a Child, Disturbing the Peace, Disorderly Conduct and Resisting Arrest, while the infant was unharmed. 3 A CBP agent and a bystander were also shoving each other before the SUV drove away from the scene. @iwontstealthemooniswear_ via Storyful Police said while they were taking her into custody, Ashley Spring, 38, of Worcester, 'pushed multiple officers' and 'threw an unknown liquid substance on them.' She was also arrested and has been charged with Assault and Battery on a Police Officer, Assault and Battery with a Dangerous Weapon (unknown liquid), Disorderly Conduct, and Interfering with a Police Officer. The Worcester Police Department said the 'chaotic incident is still under investigation' and further charges may be forthcoming.
