South Bend’s Common Council Vice President Rachel Tomas Morgan’s Attack On Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis CAUGHT ON VIDEO

February 21, 2025

South Bend’s Common Council Vice President Rachel Tomas Morgan’s Attack On Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis CAUGHT ON VIDEO

by  Logan Foster

Scene From 02/20/25 Committee Meeting

South Bend, IN - A day intended to celebrate the progress and achievements of Black History in South Bend took a divisive turn when the Vice President of the South Bend Common Council, Rachel Tomas Morgan, made a controversial demand during a public Rules Committee meeting. The incident, involving prominent Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis Jr., left many questioning the motives and appropriateness of her actions.

On Thursday, February 20, 2025, South Bend hosted its 10th annual Black History Month Awards Ceremony, meant to highlight the contributions of Black Leaders both past and present. This year’s festivities included an appearance by esteemed actress Vivica A. Fox, with the city rumored to have invested approximately $30,000 for her participation. However, hours before the ceremony, a different story unfolded in the South Bend Common Council Chambers—a story marked by apparent racial insensitivity and disregard for precedent.

The Rules Committee Meeting and Its Escalation

At 4 p.m., on February 20, 2025, the South Bend Common Council convened a Rules Committee meeting to address complaints against three of its nine members. Due to a conflict of interest stemming from one of the complaints being filed against Common Council President Canneth Lee, Vice President Rachel Tomas Morgan chaired the meeting. During this time, a dispute arose over Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis Jr., an at-large council member, sitting in the designated area for council members, a customary practice even for those not part of the specific committee.

Bob Palmer (Left)

Defying this long-established precedent, Vice President Tomas Morgan demanded Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis leave the council seating area and join the general public. Videotaped comments from Tomas Morgan illustrate her insistence, stating, “I am chair of this committee right now and I am asking you to sit out in the audience.” This was soon followed by Council Parliamentarian/Attorney Bob Palmer involving a South Bend police officer, further escalating the situation. Thankfully, the South Bend Police Officer professionally did his duty and explained his rationale to Council Parliamentarian/Attorney Palmer about the reason that he was not honoring his request to remove Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis from the meeting.

A Troubling Parallel

For many in attendance, the situation evoked painful parallels to historical injustices. Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis, an accomplished figure who holds the distinction of being a past President of the South Bend Common Council and the longest-serving African American male Council Member in the history of the City of South Bend, faced an unsettling comparison to moments from the Civil Rights Movement. Observers likened the demand for him to vacate his rightful seat to the indignities suffered by Mrs. Rosa Parks on a segregated Montgomery bus nearly seven decades ago.

The significance of these actions during Black History Month, a time dedicated to honoring the fight for equality and justice, cannot be overstated. Critics argue that this display undermined the very principles being celebrated later that evening during the awards ceremony.

Community Outrage and Fallout

Public reaction to the incident has been swift and condemning, with many accusing Vice President Tomas Morgan and Council Parliamentarian/Attorney Bob Palmer of overstepping their authority and engaging in actions tinged with racial insensitivity. For Councilman Dr. Davis—a man with a legacy of leadership and service to South Bend—it was not just an affront to him personally but to the larger South Bend community and the ideals of democracy.

The timeline of events on February 20th underscores what many see as a glaring contradiction. On the one hand, South Bend honored 11 Black History Month honorees during the evening’s ceremony, showcasing a facade of unity and progress. On the other hand, just hours earlier, Councilman Dr. Oliver Davis had his legitimate role as a council member challenged.

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