MICHAEL FOURNIER

Festival organizers now have to get the appropriate state licenses

Dozens of residents turned out to oppose the businesses

Michael C. Fournier was re-elected mayor of Royal Oak by a wide margin in Tuesday’s General Election.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Royal Oak city commissioners voted to censure a commissioner who attended Operation Gridlock, a protest against Michigan’s coronavirus (COVID-19) stay-at-home order, earlier this month. READ: ‘Operation Gridlock’ -- Michigan stay-at-home order protested in LansingA censure is a formal condemnation. Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier called for Gibbs to resign after learning she attended the protest, saying she broke the law. She has filed a police report and is receiving protection from Royal Oak police after she said she was getting harassing phone calls, text messages and emails. MORE: Commissioner seeks police protection after attending ‘Operation Gridlock’Commissioners held a virtual meeting where they heard comments regarding the incident on Tuesday before voting 5-2 to pass the censure.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – City Commissioner Kim Gibbs is receiving protection services from Royal Oak police after filing a police report for allegedly receiving harassing phone calls, texts and emails. This news comes after Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier called for Gibbs’ resignation after she attended the “Operation Gridlock” protest in Lansing last week. MORE: ‘Operation Gridlock’ -- Michigan stay-at-home order protested in LansingFournier asked Gibbs to resign after saying her participation was illegal and put lives at risk. “I attended Operational Gridlock at the Capitol to support the voices of small business owners and their employees,” said Gibbs. “Commissioner Gibbs willfully violated the law and put countless lives at risk.

Jeff Kowalsky / Getty ImagesArmed protesters got out of their cars at "Operation Gridlock," despite orders not to. The organizers of "Operation Gridlock," last week's protest of Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's stay-at-home coronavirus prevention efforts, have distanced themselves from those who got out of their cars and disobeyed social distancing guidelines. "The group also says they will not be calling for any further Operation Gridlock protests. Only one person was arrested at Operation Gridlock, for assault against another protester.Gov.

ROYAL OAK, Mich. – Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier is calling for the resignation of Royal Oak Commissioner Kim Gibbs after she attended a protest in Lansing on Wednesday. Mayor Fournier asked Gibbs to resign from her position as a Royal Oak Commissioner, saying she broke the law by participating in Wednesday’s protest. She lacks the judgment and empathy to serve the people of Royal Oak,” Fournier said. If she cares about Royal Oak she will resign so we can begin healing from this black eye she has placed upon us. “As of today (Thursday), Royal Oak has lost 14 of our own to this virus.

click to enlarge Screengrab/ WJBK-Fox 2Royal Oak City Commissioner Kim Gibbs, in red, was spotted at Operation Gridlock. Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier has asked City Commissioner Kim Gibbs to step down after she was spotted disobeying social distancing guidelines at "Operation Gridlock," a massive right-wing protest on Wednesday in Lansing against Gov. Many did not wear face masks, and many stood closer than six feet apart including Gibbs, who was spotted walking around. "In an email, Fournier confirmed tothat he asked Gibbs to resign. "Gibbs told The Royal Oak Tribune that she was not participating in the protest, but that she supported it.

click to enlarge Kimiko Adolph / FacebookRoyal Oak police are conducting an internal investigation after a viral Facebook video showed cops stopping a Black man for looking suspiciously at a white woman Tuesday evening.The departments handling of the white womans complaint drew heavy criticism following a Metro Times story Wednesday.Witnesses said police stopped Devin Myers, who was walking to a restaurant, for up to an hour. The video , which was viewed more than 630,000 times as of Thursday morning, showed Myers calmly answering questions. "We are in the process of evaluating what mistakes have been made and we will own them, we will learn from them, and we will continue to strive to be better in everything we do," Royal Oak Mayor Michael Fournier said in a statement.Police have declined to discuss the case, citing the internal investigation.Fournier said Royal Oak is "passionate" about embracing people from all walks of life. "We absolutely recognize that racial bias exists and we as a community aspire to be among those working every day to combat it. But, this is not just the work of our officers and public officials alone, but all of us, individually [and] as a community must put in the effort to recognize and come to terms with our own personal prejudices and biases."