SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – Lamar Thorpe, the embattled mayor of Antioch, says he was punched after giving a speech on Tuesday afternoon.
According to a statement from Thorpe, he was walking out of the Antioch Chamber of Commerce after giving a talk on supporting local businesses, when an "older white man in his 50s" came up to confront him.
Thorpe, who is Black, said he asked the man to leave but the man punched him in the chest and tried to punch him again before bystanders pulled him away.
The man fled the scene. It remains unclear why he attacked Thorpe.
Antioch police are aware of the incident.
"Although shaken up, I am doing well," Thorpe said. "Violence has absolutely no place in the public discourse and will never be tolerated. My hope is that this individual is arrested and prosecuted. I would like to thank the bystanders who intervened for putting their own safety at risk to help me. I will never forget their kindness and support."
Thorpe did not mention the incident at the town’s city council meeting later that night, though he took many metaphorical punches during the hours of public comment.
Residents questioned him about the alleged police misconduct throughout the city and called on him to resign for both a sexual harassment lawsuit from before he took office and a recent DUI arrest.
"I'd like you to resign," one woman said. "You have a 350,000 settlement from the county, a DUI and you just go on as if nothing's happened."
Thorpe had to remove several people for outbursts.
The mayor previously apologized for the DUI arrest and has denied the claims in the sexual harrassment lawsuit.
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