On Tuesday morning, community activists and former political candidate Derron Black took his dislike for District 3 At-Large Kansas City Councilman Brandon Ellington all the way live on Facebook.
“Where’s your councilman at,” Black asks at the start of the video.
Wearing a black KC Chiefs stocking camp, a grey wool coat, a white Derron Black for State Representative t-shirt and a grimacing stare, Black continues his call out for the whereabouts of a councilmember – who he calls the “N’ word and a few other foul names – but not by his God-given name.
He stops to light a cigar and marches off, apparently on his way to the councilmembers house, that he says lives nearby.
It finally becomes evident he’s looking for Ellington and he eventually makes his way to Ellington’s house and knocks on his door, but not before making it clear he questions Ellington’s integrity.
Ellington who was at home at the time, wisely didn’t come to the door, but called the police before going live with his on series of videos. In his first video, Ellington interacts with the police and files a trespassing complaint against Black. In a later video, he says he’s filed the paperwork to get an Order of Protection against Black.
The two obviously have a history, that at one time people say was friendly, but has obviously turned disagreable. Ellington was reportedly campaign manager for Black’s unsuccessful 2020 race for the Missouri House.
“He’s publicly threated my life and my family before,” Ellington tells the police during his first video. “This is his second time trespassing on my property.”
Ellington, who is seeking reelection to his council seat, goes on to say Black is working for his oponent and calls Black’s actions “a tactic ued by them to try to intimidate me or to get me on camera doing something.”
By them, Ellington makes it clear he’s talking about Melissa Patterson Hazley who is opposing him in his reelection bid and the organization Freedom Inc.
Ellington says he’s seen Black in campaign pictures with Hazley and he’s “pretty sure he (Black) works for her.
In a statement released the following day, in which she refers to Black’s actions as a “mental health incident” Hazley says there is no relationship between Black and her campaign.
“Mr. Black has no official affiliation with my campaign and I hope and pray that he receives the proper mental health care that he needs and s not a harm to himself or other.”
In later videos and posts, Black is seen yielding a very large gun, which looks like the large semi-automatic rifles often carried by extremists who want to intimate others. In response, Hazley’s statement also included a comment that she does not condone violence in any form and that reducing gun violence is one of her top priorities.
Freedom Inc., president Rodney Bland also says he nor his organization has a relationship with Black.
There’s obviously bad blood between Ellington and Black, the source of which remains unclear.
“Darron Black is not, nor has never been, a member of Freedom Inc.,” wrote Bland in response to our inquiry.
It is public knowledge that Bland and Ellington had a public disagreement that led to Bland filing charges against Ellington, so the two aren’t on friendly terms.
For 60 years, Freedom Inc. has been a political force in northeast Kansas City, with an endorsement from Freedom pretty much insuring a candidate’s election.
While Freedom, Inc. has not released it’s endorsements for the upcoming April election, it would be reasonable to assume, considering Ellington’s history with Bland, they won’t be endorsing Ellington.
Despite their statements, Ellington remans convinced Freedom Inc.and Hazley were behind Black’s latest threats.
“It’s dangerous when you have a politial aparatus that tries to make elected officials fearful of representing the community,” says Ellington, who says he’s speaking up to show the community not to yield to intimidation. “I think it shows the community encouragement. If you’re not careful and what you stand for is what’s right, you have nothing to hide and run from.”