Gossipy small-town activist drops F-bombs, insults in final meeting before she moves away, wild video shows
Activist and self-proclaimed 'Yankee transplant' Jackie Beltaine didn't pull her punches as she bid an eager adieu to the Tarrant City Council and its mayor during the public comment period at the final meeting she attended before moving.
5 Tarrant resident Jackie Beltaine had a lot to say to the city council and mayor.
Tarrant, Alabama / Facebook
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She thanked them for causing enough trouble to force her into civic engagement before unleashing a string of F-bombs for the ages.
'F–k you, F–k you, F–k you, F–k you, F–k you, F–k you…' she said, gesturing to leaders seated at the dais one by one. She also pivoted to the city clerk, adding 'And F–k you too.'
Beltaine admitted that the council and mayor's constant bickering and drama inspired her to dive deeper into politics and governance, even pushing her to read the entirety of the city code, state laws, court cases and much of the state constitution.
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5 Beltaine is a renowned activist in the city.
Jackie Beltaine / TikTok
'I wanted to be able to understand what was supposed to happen, what was happening and address my concerns in an intelligent manner, so I had to go to the books,' Beltaine said.
The advocate also founded the town's satirical forum dubbed the 'Tarrant Tattler' that shifted into a platform for some legitimate news about the city's dysfunctional leadership meshed with sharp commentary.
Tarrant Mayor Wayman Newton laughed his way through Beltaine's speech, apparently having the time of his life while the council he often butts heads with watched on in disgust.
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Still, Beltaine asserted that just because she has defended Newton's policies in the past doesn't mean she's any less critical of his juvenile squabbles with the council.
5 Beltaine pointed at each leader and the city clerk and said 'F***you.'
Tarrant, Alabama / Facebook
'I flicked them all off. He drives me crazy too. I'm not aligned with the mayor. That's what everybody thinks, but I'm not,' Beltaine told AL.com.
The small 6,000-person city is headed by leaders who have frequently sparred during their own meetings — sometimes physically. Newton once slugged Councilman Tommy Bryant in the face during a heated exchange in a parking lot, according to surveillance footage obtained by the outlet.
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In 2021, Bryant's wife feared for his life after a clip of him referring to a Black councilwoman as a 'House n—-r' went viral, spurring hundreds of calls to their home threatening violence.
5 In 2021, Councilman Tommy Bryant referred to another councilmember as a 'House n—-r.'
Tarrant City Council
Beltaine was at that very meeting and insisted that Bryant's abhorrent behavior wasn't 'isolated.'
'He is nothing but a racist, homophobic, xenophobic bigot,' Beltaine said in 2021.
'I find it pretty telling that the same council members that got so offended by my flipping them off and saying 'f–k you', didn't say a word when Council Man Tommy Bryant stood up and asked if there was a 'House-N in here' — only he used the full word, hard R. Tarrant city council, always wrong,' she added on BlueSky after her explicit exit.
5 The Tarrant City Council frequently butts heads with the mayor.
Tarrant City Council
Beltaine isn't quite sure what the future holds for her after downsizing her life into a camper, she told the outlet. She plans on traveling the country, but assured part of her will always be in Tarrant — namely, through the Tattler, which will continue accepting new contributors after her leave.
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The Post reached out to Jackie Beltaine and Mayor Newton's office for comment.
The Post tried to reach out to members of the city council, but the emails listed on the city website were inactive.
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