By Staff Reports
Escalating conflicts between members of Martinsville City Council have moved beyond the dais and into the courts, as Mayor LC Jones and Council member Aaron Rawls each pursue legal action and a citizen petition seeks Jones’ removal from office.
The petition has collected an estimated 420 signatures, according to organizers, exceeding the minimum required to trigger a review. The petition has been turned in, and verification of signatures is now underway.
RAWLS
Rawls said the filing was prompted by Jones’ actions at the Jan. 8 meeting. The document was submitted to the Commonwealth’s Attorney, Martinsville Circuit Court and Martinsville Police Chief.
The filing “includes some concerns that I had documented over time and wanted to be sure to get to a prosecutor and the Virginia State Police,” Rawls said.
He added that his decision to “formally filing them … is the result of multiple instances of LC Jones engaging in violent and physically threatening behavior during Council proceedings. His behavior last Thursday night was the final straw and it’s time to get this person under control.”
(See related story, “Audit referred to VSP, prosecutor after contentious Martinsville council meeting.”)
The six-page document includes sections titled:
• Regarding threats of violence and intimidation involving LC Jones,
• Regarding the events of March 17, 2025,
• Regarding matters of financial misconduct, retaliation, and related activity.
In the final section titled, “Regarding threats of violence and intimidation involving LC Jones,” Rawls alleged, in part, that before a council session in Room 208 of the Martinsville Municipal Building on March 25, 2025, Jones “engaged in physical activity by placing both hands on the back of Council member Aaron Rawls’ chair and shaking it forcefully for a period of several seconds under the guise of trying to navigate the space behind Rawls. Jones then aggressively threw an unoccupied chair. A witness present during the altercation subsequently relayed to Rawls that what he had just observed ‘was assault’ and should be referred to the police.”
Further, Rawls alleged that on May 13, 2025, during a public council meeting held in Council Chambers, Jones “disrupted proceedings by aggressively unseating himself and approaching Council member Aaron Rawls. Jones was intercepted by Council member Rayshaun Gravely. The outburst resulted in armed police approaching the dais to restore order and a recess of Council,” the document stated.
Most recently, last week at the January 8 meeting, Rawls alleged that “Jones again disrupted Council proceedings by forcefully unseating himself and approaching Council member Julian Mei. Law enforcement approached the dais to intercept Jones. Jones’ behavior and threat of physical harm resulted in the triggering of Mei’s panic disorder and requiring him to be assisted out of Council Chambers.”
During the meeting Tuesday, Rawls noted the intense exchange triggered a medical incident.
JONES
Jones apologized at Tuesday’s meeting, and noted, “I was threatened that (Thursday) night. Unfortunately, here in America, here in Martinsville, a Black man with his hands up is the most dangerous man in the world.”
Later, he alleged the threat “was made by Councilman Rawls, as he was walking down the hall” talking to a media outlet. Jones alleged that Rawls said he would “put someone in the dirt over” Council member Julian Mei, who also is Rawls’ friend.
According to Jones, Rawls was questioned that night about “whether he felt the need to have the police “in closed session, and said that he didn’t feel the need to have that, and that LC was only coming at Julian because he was a ‘bully.’
“I apologize,” Jones said. “But again, a Black man with his hands up is the most dangerous man in America. That these individuals can’t see their unconscious bias or conscious bias … is hidden. I don’t know which one it is, but they feel threatened anytime they see a black man with his hands up.
“I have spoken with a judge to obtain a protective order. We actually have a court day set. I don’t even remember what the court date is, but we have a court date set to go before a judge. All I’m looking for is no acts of violence. No intentions of inciting violence. That is my goal.”
