Dream Defender Arrested At Commission Meeting
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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – A member of the local Dream Defenders group was arrested after he caused a disruption at the Ft. Lauderdale city commission meeting.
Demetrius Vaughn, 22, allegedly refused to surrender the microphone when the commission honored the police department for their work during last year's Winterfest Boat Parade.
Vaughn was arrested Tuesday night during the commission meeting when he tried to speak after he said he was denied the opportunity to sign up.
"I was performing my civic duty as a citizen that was taken away from me, so I feel like there was an injustice done there," said Vaughn.
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Vaughn, who was part of the "Black Lives Matter" protest during the parade, claims he was threatened by officers.
The protesters were at the parade rallying as part of the nationwide protests about police shooting of people of color.
Jasmen Rogers was arrested during the protest. She was also at the commission meeting Tuesday hoping to speak.
"We tried to sign up to speak as part of the community members, we were told no, there is no public comments last night," said Rogers.
"I would have loved to have heard from them in a productive manner," said Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler.
Instead of signing up to speak the right way, he said the group disrupted the meeting.
"Some group wants to hijack the meeting to talk about an item that was not brought to our attention before last night. It was inappropriate, it was rude," the Mayor said.
The public is allowed to speak about issues not on the agenda every first Tuesday of the month, but they have to sign up a week in advance. The dream defenders tell us they asked to speak about a half hour before the meeting began.
Vaughn is facing several charges including disorderly conduct.
