FERGUSON, Mo. - Before Tuesday night's regular council meeting, the Ferguson City Council held a special meeting to discuss an incident involving a council member.

Councilman David Williams was recorded on camera displaying an obscene gesture during last month’s council meeting in response to a citizen’s behavior.   He said the citizen continued to interrupt him even though the public’s opportunity to comment had ended.

“I gave her the bird,” Williams recently told FOX 2. 

During Tuesday’s special meeting, council members debated whether more needs to be done to maintain decorum during meetings. 

Williams said, “I did not do that gesture toward the entire crowd.  It was to one person.  But however, that can be seen as an embarrassment to the city, the city staff, and the council.  And for that I apologize.” 

Erica Brooks, the Ferguson resident on the receiving end of the obscene gesture, attended Tuesday’s council meeting. She told FOX 2 that Williams has been disrespectful in the past. 

“I’ve been disrespected for a whole year by him,” she said.

Brooks defended speaking out of turn at council meetings because she said some council members have used their time to disparage the public without giving them a chance to respond.

“We always get disrespected throughout the meeting,” Brooks said.

Ferguson resident Becca Bryant feels Williams’ behavior should warrant his removal. 

“It should be the last straw,” she said.

Ferguson resident Phil Berwick defended Williams’ actions. 

“I’ve never seen a councilman get so much disrespect as I’ve witnessed him getting,” Berwick said.