Citizens rush council members as chaos erupts at Newark City Hall meeting

[FarCenter]

NEWARK — A behind-the-scenes political maneuver by Newark Mayor Cory Booker to fill a vacant council seat with his choice led to a near-riot in city hall tonight, with dozens of residents rushing the council stage and police responding with pepper-spray.

After weeks of jockeying for Rep. Donald Payne’s successor, Booker made an unprecedented personal appearance to cast the deciding vote with his council allies for Shanique Davis Speight, a longtime ally of power broker Stephen Adubato, over the angry objections of residents.

http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2012/11/newark_city_hall_disturbance_c.html

[dixiegrrrrl]

1. People power.

I suspect a new pattern is emerging of activist citizens.

[FarCenter]

2. I'm not sure that I'd characterize the Sharpe James faction as "activist citizens".