The Reader Beat: City Council Meeting, July 17 Community Speaks Out for "Justice for Chello"

The following are our notes from the Erie City Council meeting that was held on Wednesday, July 16. The public comments focused on the recent killing of Marchello Woodard by a PA State Parole officer. Additionally, bizarre comments made by Council Member Mel Witherspoon are clarified within.

On Wednesday, July 16 at 6:30 p.m. the City Council chambers were full of community members, some spilling into the lobby. The majority were there to demand justice for Marchello Woodard, an unarmed Black man who was killed by a state parole officer on July 2. Some wore t-shirts that read: "Justice For Chello." 25 constituents spoke, resulting in nearly two hours of public comments. Throughout, the crowd periodically erupted, some shouting out: "Justice for Chello!" 

Those in attendance expressed their combined sadness and frustration on Woodard's death and the way the investigation has been handled. Charles Woodward, the father of the victim, expressed his grief over his son's death at the hands of an officer. "I had to bury my son," he said. "Next time, you should respect that badge to honor, serve, and protect the community." 

Others asked for explicit change to be made, referencing gaps in the justice system, holding officers accountable, and the lack of answers given to the community during the course of the investigation. 

Constituent Selena King, a member of the PA Legislative Black Caucus Foundation, asked for support from City Council, requesting that they communicate with the District Attorney and the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). "There has not been any investigation that has gone forward that has been able to give answers to the community," King said. "There has not been a statement from the PSP. We've gotten a statement from the [Fraternal Order of Police]. That is a union. That is not the PSP, so that is not acceptable." The investigation has proceeded for two weeks without a public statement by the PSP, aside from their initial statement. 

Following public comments, the majority of the audience stepped out into the lobby. City Council Member Chuck Nelson proposed adjusting the order of the meeting in order to address the people before reviewing and voting on ordinances and resolutions. The motion to adjust the meeting passed unanimously and the constituents were invited back in the room to hear the councilmembers' responses. 

Council Member Jasmine Flores explained that City Council has little jurisdiction over the investigation as the Erie Police Department was not involved in the incident. "We ask for a transparent investigation," Flores said. "I'm hopeful that the community is going to get the justice we deserve." 

Vice President Tyler Titus asked current Mayor Joe Schember and mayoral candidate Daria Devlin to understand the pain that the community is feeling and to take action. 

This clipping from a Nebraska newspaper recounts the incident that Council Member Witherspoon recalled in his comments regarding his emotional reaction to the death of Marchello Woodard.

The mood of the room shifted from one of energetic advocacy to one of confusion as Council Member Mel Witherspoon made comments describing his initial emotional reaction upon hearing the news of Woodard's shooting – one that seemed to recall a past trauma. He described an incident from his time in college, involving a firearm and another student at Nebraska university where Witherspoon claims to have "shot him in the head, point blank." This comment has since caused a sensational media reaction. 

The Erie Reader team has uncovered a news story from Scottsbluff, Nebraska in 1961 recounting the story of the actual incident in which a gun held by Witherspoon misfired and injured fellow student Nicholas Deligiania. Deligiania was not killed in the incident and lived to the age of 76. It is noted in Deligiania's obituary, "His football career was cut short by a campus accident while at college in Scottsbluff, Nebraska."

Vice President Tyler Titus, when asked for comment stated, "At this time, I am not in a position to make a public statement regarding the remarks made during the recent City Council meeting. However, I have contacted both the District Attorney's office and the City Solicitor to seek guidance and clarity on the entirety of the meeting, including the comments made by Councilmember Witherspoon."