'That's Literal Assault': Altercation Captured On Video; IL School Board Member Resigns

ROCKFORD, IL — A Rockford school board member has resigned after a confrontation with a teacher and documentarian was captured on camera, according to reports.

The video, which was taken Tuesday night, shows board member Michael Connor exit the school district administration building, walk up to the camera, and seemingly knock or push it, at which point a woman is heard out of frame saying, “That’s literal assault, you cannot do that.”

Connor then approaches the woman and stands close to her face.

“What are you? Who are you?” he asks repeatedly, before turning to address the cameraman, telling him, “You have no business” and moving very close to him.

At that point, the cameraman asks, “What is wrong with you, dude?” Connor then turns, points directly at the camera and says, “You,” before accusing the person filming the encounter of intimidation.

Connor resigned Wednesday, according to WIFR, which reported the man behind the camera was Harlem High School teacher Nicholas Stange, who was documenting racial justice group the May 30th Alliance, which had been removed from the evening’s board meeting.

Stange told the Rockford Register Star he does not intend to file charges. The newspaper reported Connor said he resigned to “focus on my health” and that he did not want to be “a distraction.”

Board President Jude Makulec made reference to “unfortunate” “incivility by visitors” in a statement following the incident, according to WIFR, which reported the alliance was at the meeting in pursuit of the removal of a school officer who assaulted a student in 2021.

In that case, the officer slammed Parris Moore, a freshman, to the floor at Auburn High School, according to the Register Star, which reported Moore’s skull was fractured.

Applications to replace Connor on the board are due Dec. 2, with an appointment set for Dec. 13.