The suburban Chicago school board member who repeatedly cursed at a maskless man who tried to speak during the public comment portion of a meeting earlier this month has apologized.
What are the details?
Joel Taub of the Glenbrook High School District 225 Board of Education issued a written apology a few days after his profanity-laced outbursts at the Feb. 14 meeting, Journal & Topics reported.
“I apologize for the language I used at our recent board meeting. My duty is to serve our community with professionalism, and I regret letting my frustration get the best of me at this stage of the global pandemic," Taub noted in a written statement, the outlet said. "I remain deeply committed to the education of our students and will refocus my energy on that integral responsibility,”
Journal & Topics said some called for Taub’s resignation after he dropped F-bombs on the citizen at the microphone, while others sympathized with the board member's frustration.
What's the background?
The man told the board he didn't want to wear a mask to speak because he couldn't "articulate" well enough while doing so due to a medical reason.
After a prolonged exchange, the maskless man — Mark Weyermuller — quipped that "I have a mask. I can wear the mask on my head if you want." With that, Taub hollered back, "You can wear your mask on your f***ing balls! If you don’t wear the f***ing mask, you get the f*** out of here!"
At that point, the meeting moderator pounded his gavel and called for a five-minute recess — but Taub continued with his profane rejoinder: "Get him the f*** out of the room if he can't put his f***ing mask on!"
Taub's bio on the board website indicates he's in the middle of his fourth consecutive four-year term, which ends in 2023. Weyermuller is a Chicago realtor who has been publicly opposing mask mandates in area schools.
Neither the school board, school district, nor Taub immediately replied to request for comment prior to publication of TheBlaze's initial story on the matter.
The school board's website indicates that the district "offers a public education to 5,132 students in Glenview, Northbrook, and portions of unincorporated Northfield Township." The board lists Glenview as its location, which is about a half hour northwest of Chicago.
'Are you the mask police?'
Video of the incident shows Weyermuller wearing a mask over his mouth as he approached the microphone, but he removed it as he began speaking.
“I’m sorry, sir, sir, sir," the meeting moderator — whom Journal & Topics identified as Board President Bruch Doughty — told Weyermuller. "I need you to put on your mask."
Weyermuller replied, “Should I stop my clock? I can’t — President Biden and [Illinois Democratic Gov.] J.B. Pritzker both speak without a mask. ... And I do have an exemption. Will you allow me to speak? Please, I’m not going to interrupt you when you speak.”
Here's how things escalated when Taub jumped into the fray:
Taub: Are you gonna let him speak without a mask?
Doughty: Well, he’s got a medical exemption.
Weyermuller: Now he’s interrupting me. I mean, you guys are rude!
Taub: How do we know? How do we know?
Weyermuller: Do I get to speak or not? Do I get to speak? (gesturing to Taub) Who’s this? Are you the mask police? Can I speak or not?
Doughty: We’ll let you speak, just one moment, please. Mr. Taub, did you have a question?
Weyermuller (referencing Taub): Is he in charge?
Taub (to Weyermuller): Are you in charge?
Doughty: No, Mr. Taub...
Weyermuller: I’m speaking. It’s public comment. (to Doughty) You said at the beginning of the meeting you would not be rude to people.
Taub to Weyermuller: Are you in charge? Are you in charge? Are you in charge?
Doughty: Enough.
Taub (to Weyermuller): Are you in charge?
Doughty: Mr. Taub, Mr. Taub.
Weyermuller: We should remove him. I mean, this is rude.
Doughty: We’ll start your two minutes now, sir.
Taub (to Doughty): This is not what you promised. You said if they don’t wear a mask, they can’t speak.
Masked members of the audience applauded Taub's remark, and then the exchange continued:
Weyermuller: I have a mask. I can wear the mask on my head if you want. I mean, it's just —
Taub: You can wear your mask on your f***ing balls! If you don’t wear the f***ing mask, you get the f*** out of here!
Doughty: Enough. Enough. We’re going to take recess for five minutes.
Taub: Get him the f*** out of the room if he can't put his f***ing mask on!
Doughty: Mr. Taub, please. ... Recess for five minutes.
Content warning: rough language
Glenbrook District 225 Board Meeting 02-14-2022 - Member Joel Taub Berates a Speaker for No Maskyoutu.be
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