A small-town council meeting in Tarrant, Alabama, turned volatile as deep-seated tensions between Mayor Wayman Newton and Councilman Tommy Bryant erupted into verbal clashes and accusations of racism. The Nov. 18 altercation marked another chapter in their years-long feud, which has frequently disrupted the city’s governance. Newton, the town’s first Black mayor, accused Bryant of using a racial slur against him and reigniting past grievances during the heated exchange.