The city of Flint, Michigan announced the death of Councilman Eric Mays, the man who took the internet by storm for his hilarious outbursts during meetings but also fought restlessly to get justice for city residents.
Mays began his work in the city council before even becoming a council member. He told The Detroit News in an interview years ago that he was commissioned by the Flint branch of the NAACP as a political action representative in 1981. His job was to attend city council meetings and raise concerns from residents. Mays told the outlet he was booted out of meetings for taking too much time talking. In 2012, he was actually convicted of “disturbing the peace” for refusing to be quiet during a city council hearing.
Little did the council know this was only the beginning, and something they’d experience for the next decade—a man who refused to be silenced about the issues facing low-income city residents.
The Detroit News documented how Mays was one of the first elected officials to bring attention to the Flint water crisis . Despite all the opposition from his fellow council members, he never backed down. His popularity landed him an official seat on the council in 2013 where he remained for the next three election terms. Though, his wins did not come without conflict.
Over that time, he was repeatedly kicked out of meetings for misconduct. In 2015, he was charged with disorderly conduct and was removed by police. In 2020, he was stripped of being vice president and chair of the Finance Committee after giving the President Monica Galloway the Nazi salute, per The Detroit Free Press. In 2022, he was arrested again for disorderly conduct in a meeting and was convicted in March 2023 of misdemeanor and sentenced to six months probation, per ABC 12 News.
Mays was placed on suspension from the council but during his legal squabble with the city, his outbursts in the council meetings took social media by storm.
From showing up in whole costumes, his beef *specifically* with councilwoman Kate Fields and returning the same energy and condescending attitude he’s typically given — Mays was entertaining to say the least.
“When they go low, I go low-ER!”
“Handkerchief head negro...”
“Damn, damn, damn!”
I mean, the quotes of his rants are endless. One thing about it, as funny as he was, he always demanded his respect. TikTok went to populating the timeline with compilations of his most hysterical disruptions in meetings. Some people went as far as making T-shirts with his face plastered over it in the style of a 90s rapper. Social media nicknamed him Eric “MF” Mays — in translation, the councilman not to be f’d with!
However, Saturday evening, the city announced that the 65-year-old politician has passed. According to ABC 12, his death was attributed to natural causes following an illness but the medical examiner still has yet to determine the actual cause of death.
“He was beloved for his bold and courageous service on behalf of Flint’s First Ward, and his strong presence will be deeply missed. Our prayers are with his family, friends, and the entire city of Flint during this time of sorrow,” the city said in a statement.