William Bell, Marcus Lundy make amends after fight at City Hall
Birmingham Mayor William Bell and City Councilman Marcus Lundy said Thursday their raucous fight during a City Council meeting this week was water under the bridge. A day after Bell dropped pending criminal charges against Lundy for third-degree assault, the two men held a press conference to demonstrate their forgiveness and express their commitment to moving forward with the city’s agenda. “I stand here today to apologize to the public, to recommit myself to lifting up this city and ask for the prayers and the hard work of everyone to make this city great,” Bell told reporters. The city leaders came to blows Tuesday, when witnesses said Lundy tackled Bell and put him in a choke hold, leaving the mayor with a swollen knee and sore neck. Lundy sustained lacerations to the back of his leg. The two sounded conciliatory Thursday, saying they were sorry the fight may have tarnished the city’s reputation and that the pressing business of revitalizing the city after years of decline took precedence over settling personal scores. “We’re family and we’re gonna start acting like family,” Lundy said. The fight – dubbed on social media the “Brawl at City Hall” – garnered national headlines and attention from the public worldwide. Sources say the immediate cause of the fight was the city’s revocation of Lundy’s use of a city-owned vehicle. Other reports say Bell recently phoned the councilman’s employer and requested his dismissal, a charge the mayor denies.
William Bell orders warrant for Marcus Lundy’s arrest withdrawn
In a new development in the so-called “Brawl at City Hall” covered by news outlets around the nation, Councilman Marcus Lundy is no longer on the lam, according to information first obtained by Alabama Today. Mayor William Bell has asked Birmingham Police to withdraw a warrant from Lundy’s arrest, a day after Lundy attacked the mayor after forcibly restraining him from leaving a room just off the City Council chambers, according to a police report. “Having been informed by the complainant that he desires the warrant to be, withdrawn it is hereby removed from active status immediately,” the order simply reads. “We are concerned about the overall good of the city and keeping up the positive momentum that we have seen over the past sever years. With that in mind, I have withdrawn my complaint,” explained Bell late Wednesday evening. Lundy had been charged with third-degree assault. The fight reportedly started after Lundy’s use of a city-owned car was revoked by the City. Lundy also charged Bell may have called Lundy’s employer, Regions Bank, and demanded his dismissal. Bell denies doing so.
“Brawl at City Hall” garners national attention
The fight between Mayor William Bell and City Councilman Marcus Lundy that broke out Tuesday in City Hall – details of which were reported first by Alabama Today – has attracted the attention of the national press, as well as social media where the hashtag “#BrawlAtCityHall” amassed hundreds of Tweets. According to a police report first obtained by Alabama Today, Lundy attacked Bell in a break room adjoining the Council chambers, where a regular meeting of city of council was taking place. After forcibly stopping Bell from leaving the room by slamming the door shut, Lundy tackled Bell and “put him in a chokehold,” police said Tuesday. While both men were hospitalized with minor injuries, the report charges Lundy with one count of third-degree assault, calling him the aggressor in the confrontation. The story gained momentum nationally Tuesday afternoon and into the night, meriting reports from Reuters, ABC News, and the Associated Press. The fight broke out amid rumors that Lundy, who has often been at odds with the mayor’s office since first being elected in 2013, may try to run against Bell in a Democratic primary during the next mayoral election in 2018. Bell’s office recently revoked Lundy’s use of a city-owned car, citing a state law that may prohibit such use, and Lundy maintains Bell recently called his employer, Regions, and demanded his dismissal. Bell denies doing so.
