City Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky in a social media video post publicly proposed a physical fight with local activist MiDian Shofner — for charity.
Whether in earnest or jest, the throw down is the latest skirmish between some members of the Aurora City Council and family members and activists linked to the police shooting of Kilyn Lewis last year.
For months, Schofner and others have appeared at city council meetings, demanding the city fire Aurora SWAT officer Michael Dieck, who fatally shot Kilyn Lewis during his arrest at an Aurora apartment last year. An outside police investigative team and a former district attorney both said that Dieck’s actions were not criminal in shooting Lewis. Aurora Police Chief Todd Chamberlain said Dieck’s actions did not violate APD policy.
Sometime Monday, a video of Jurinsky was posted on Jeff Fard’s, aka Brother Jeff, social media page where the council member said that in response to something Shofner said to her, she had to think it through and “she wanted to set it up.”
“I want to know my dear, you meet me in the ring or what, because I’m ready to go,” Jurinsky said into the camera, speaking to Shofner. “How long do you need? You don’t get to just run your mouth anymore.You say you’re from Montbello. Back it up. Let’s go. Let’s fight for charity.”
Jurinsky told the Sentinel that this is all in reference to an interaction she had with Shofner last week. She said last Wednesday when she was holding a Candidate Meet and Greet for multiple city council candidates at her bar JJ’s Place, including herself, Shofner showed up to protest, and while she was telling her to get off the property and walking toward her to show Shofner where the property line was, she said Shofner told her she would find out what would happen to her if she took one more step.
In the video, Jurinsky said she had to “play it in her head what happened.” She said it was in reference to Shofner making several comments about her wanting to fight Jurinsky.
There is currently no known video recording of the interaction that allegedly happened between Jurinsky and Shofner, but Shofner said she is not interested in a fight and is insulted by the proposition.
Shofner said she was incensed by what Junsinky demeaning the death of Black man with animated and potentially cultural appropriation talk equating residents of traditionally Black communities with fighting.
Shofner said the “racist rhetoric is very evident” in Jurinksy’s comments in the video, with her referring to Montbello being a place where people grow up to fight.
Behavior like Jurinsky’s is often wrongly equated with mine, as if both sides are equally rational, Shofner said.
“Those seeking justice have always been the effect to their cause,” Shofner said. “We are not the instigators, we are simply trying to show up in spaces to engage.”
Fard will have the “full video” of Jurinsky’s comments posted on his Facebook page on Tuesday and will go live at 2 p.m.
Despite all that, Jurinsky persisted in offering up a fight.
“I think a fight for charity could be a good thing to bring together,” Councilmember Danielle Jurinsky said to the Sentinel. “It’s clear that she wants to fight me so it needs to be legal and for a good cause.”
Check back for an update after the Brother Jeff show.
Certainly on brand for the Councilperson who has never conducted herself with the retraint and dignity one would hope comes with the position.
I would attend were there something on the line other than Council member jurinsky’s wounded pride. The loser should agree to not speak on the subject of Mr. Lewis for one year. The loser not being determined by any score or referee but by whether they can come out on the bell to toe the line for another round.
Although this might not fit real well with the highly educated, country club set nor the politically correct group of voters, it’s politically different.
This certainly is more ammunition for Danielle among the blue collared bar voters. She probably already had these voters anyway. Well, enough already, I’m on my way to JJ’s Place!