Joplin City Council moves to censure Ryan Jackson over anti-trans remarks, doxxing reporter

Censured!

It was the first Joplin City Council meeting with newly-appointed Mayor Rob O’Brian at the helm and it ended with the censure of Councilman Ryan Jackson.

The Joplin City Council voted 8-1 to censure Councilman Ryan Jackson for violating the city’s code of ethics following controversial social media remarks about a transgender candidate and additional comments made to a local television reporter.

An earlier attempt to expel or remove him from office failed by a 4-5 vote, falling short of the required three-fourths majority.

Councilman Keenan Cortez cast the lone “no” vote on the censure resolution. Cortez’s vote appeared to reflect a preference for stronger punishment rather than opposition to holding Jackson accountable. Jackson himself voted in favor of his own censure. The other council members, including Mayor Rob O’Brian (who presided over his first regular meeting in the role), voted yes.

Members of the public showed up to let city officials know how they felt about Jackson’s anti-trans remarks he made on Facebook about a former city council candidate.

Jackson is also accused of threatening to dox a local reporter who wrote a story on the matter.

Jackson had no objections to the allegations against him and apologized for his actions, which council members say violated the city’s code of ethics.

Multiple citizens took to the stand to protest Jackson’s actions and call for his resignation and removal from the council.