Compton : Mayor Boots Activist From Council Meeting

A long-simmering conflict between Compton’s mayor and a community activist exploded into shouts during Tuesday’s City Council meeting and ended with Lorraine Cervantes being dragged from the council chambers and paramedics being called to the scene.

The incident began when Mayor and newly elected Rep. Walter R. Tucker III mentioned that he would not be attending the city’s annual Christmas parade. A single guffaw sounded from the audience, and Tucker turned on Cervantes, demanding to know what was funny. Cervantes loudly protested that she hadn’t laughed and, after a heated exchange, Tucker called on police officers who were standing nearby to escort Cervantes out.

Cervantes did not cooperate and was dragged from the room, yelling: “I didn’t laugh. Someone else did.” In the lobby, Cervantes, who has a history of heart problems, complained of chest pains and respiratory problems. Paramedics treated Cervantes with oxygen, and police officers took a report but no charges were filed.