Tension flared at the Worcester City Council meeting Tuesday night when David Webb, a local progressive activist, was reportedly spray-painted in the face by a restaurant owner, an incident which took a startling turn from civic discourse to alleged assault. Witnesses and city officials say the altercation occurred right as the meeting commenced, according to Boston.com.
The accused, identified by police as John Piccolo, has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, with a warrant issued for his arrest, after a chaotic encounter that unfolded on the third floor of Worcester City Hall; Webb, marked by black paint, took to the public comment podium to articulate his shaken state and inform the councilors of the attack, Webb shared "Sorry I’m shaken up, the owner of Piccolo’s just spray-painted my face out there," Webb disclosed these disturbing details during the session as documented in a Boston.com report.
Webb, who took to social media after the incident, wearing a shirt emblazoned with "decriminalize survival," suggested that disliking his advocacy is tolerable but called advocating violence against activists a move towards fascism, his subsequent words echoed through the digital sphere highlighting the tension between advocacy and aggression "Disliking me is understandable,” he wrote, while concluding “Advocating for violence against activists and advocates is fascism," in a poignant observation shared on his social platforms. This was supplemented by footage showing Webb in a distressed state at the council chambers posted to his Instagram, according to Boston.com.
City Manager Eric Batista emphasized the city's commitment to safety in municipal buildings, though questions remain about the lack of body cameras on police present during the incident, as per NBC Boston. Webb, who received medical attention at UMass Memorial Medical Center and was released without major injuries, raised concerns about transparency, despite the police's prompt four-minute response.
