Mayor responds after woman holds up shoe at Raleigh City Council meeting

Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin is responding after Raleigh City Council's public comment session became heated on Tuesday.

In attendance were several people calling for council to pass a resolution supporting a cease-fire in Gaza.

One speaker, who identified herself as "Katherine," held up her shoe, demanding that leaders listen to her.

After speaking about the war, the woman said, "Mary-Ann Baldwin ... if I can keep from throwing this shoe at you, you can keep from off your phone while listening to your constituents talk. Please. Your people are trying to get you to hear them."

WRAL News asked the mayor to respond to the comment and about safety during public comment sessions.

Baldwin released the following statement: "Last night’s gesture violated the rules of decorum and was inappropriate. We have police inside the City Council chambers to manage these situations and minimize disruptions."

Raleigh City Council did not take a vote on a ceasefire resolution Tuesday, but in March the council voted 4-4 on a ceasefire, not enough for it to pass.

Council members Mary Black, Jane Harrison, Christina Jones and Megan Patton voted for the resolution, which wasn’t on Tuesday’s agenda.

Mayor Mary-Ann Baldwin and council members Corey Branch, Stormie Forte and Jonathan Melton voted against it.

In early February, Baldwin announced the Raleigh City Council would not issue a resolution calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. Instead, she read a statement to call for peace in the war between Israel and Hamas.

Dozens of cities across the U.S. have passed resolutions calling for a cease-fire in Gaza, including Durham.