Amongst weeks of criticism, a petition demanding Newburgh Councilman Omari Shakur’s removal has emerged on Change.org. The petition is directed at the Newburgh City Council and is currently at 2,765 signers.Various petitions either supporting or criticizing Shakur have emerged on Change.org.

Shakur came under fire after a video emerged of him in a vitriol- filled rant directed at two City of Newburgh Police officers. He has had his share of supporters and critics emerge over the weeks. Last Monday, the council voted to officially censure Shakur.

According to Mayor Torrance Harvey, the city charter does not allow any council action beyond censure. The decision to remove any elected official from office is up to the governor. There is currently an ongoing third party investigation of the incident. The agency has not been named.

Shakur declined to comment on the petition on the basis that he’d rather wait for the results of the investigation before making an official statement.

“Everyone wants to blame me,” said Shakur last Monday. “I don’t think we got this bad because of that one incident. I don’t think that one incident defines Newburgh.”