Effort to recall Joplin City Council member paused

UPDATE: The petition has been suspended after talks between the two parties were "respectful" and productive.

There's an effort underway to remove a sitting Joplin City Council member.

A recall petition was launched this week against Ryan Jackson.

The group, led by Ron Burch, says Councilman Jackson has "failed to uphold his Oath of Office" and has "not treated all citizens with courtesy, impartiality, fairness and equality."

It all comes after comments Jackson made on Facebook where he said that gender dysphoria is a mental illness and that people "push the ideology on mentally unhealthy people and impressionable children."

Jackson, in response, says we are all entitled to freedom of speech and are allowed to express our opinions on personal accounts.

But Burch says the petition is broad in language and not due to a single incident but a multitude of issues since Jackson took office.

Burch and his group will be collecting signatures at Blackthorn Pizza on Friday, April 11, from 4-6pm.