MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Helena-West Helena City Council members approved a resolution unanimously Tuesday requesting Mayor Christopher Franklin resign from office, but Franklin said he has no intention of stepping down.
The resolution comes after a Facebook Live video was shared showing Franklin using profanities towards his adult daughter and adult niece; it also asks for his immediate resignation.
Council members also introduced a resolution to censure Franklin for the same video.
Franklin said before the reading of the resolution that it was a family issue that both sides are working on.
"Whereas, the video of Mayor Christopher Franklin is prurient, grotesque, misogynistic, narcissistic, nauseating and in no wise expressive of all the people of our city," the resolution reads.
The six-member board voted unanimously for the resolution, but Franklin responded by saying, "I'm not moving. I'm going to still be here," and adjourning the meeting with a gavel before walking out.
ABC24 tried contacting council members before the meeting, but most did not returned requests for comment. One council member, Monica Davis, told ABC24 she had no comment.
The censure resolution asks for an immediate apology from Franklin. It was not voted on.
Franklin reiterated to media after the meeting that it was "a family issue."
"It got on social media," Franklin said. "I apologize to everybody. They said words to me, I said words to them. I'm not angry at my daughters, they're not angry at me."
Franklin then said more people appeared for this meeting than during the water crisis from earlier in the year.
"This community is going to be safer," Franklin said. "Let's unify this city."