Angry activist threatens school board member over flags
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A disturbing incident unfolded at a Grosse Pointe Public Schools board meeting when a local activist appeared to issue a death threat against Board Trustee Sean Cotton. The activist, Ian Seaman, drew an unsettling parallel to the recent murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson by Luigi Mangione.
During his public remarks, Seaman expressed anger over what he incorrectly believed to be school policies regarding rainbow flags in classrooms. Making matters more concerning, Seaman was wearing a backpack similar to the one Mangione had worn during Thompson’s murder.
Addressing Cotton directly, Seaman began by criticizing spending on journalism salaries and Republican action committees. His comments then took an ominous turn as he threatened, “Fortunate for you, I am no Luigi. But to some disgruntled teen with his or her father’s pistol or rifle, any of the other things you prefer in school other than rainbow flags, you might be a Brian Thompson.”
Unhinged leftist threatens Michigan school board member with a Luigi Mangione scenario.
This happened on Monday when Ian Seaman threatened Grosse Pointe Public Schools Board of Education Trustee Sean Cotton.
Seaman ended by saying, “You might be a Brian Thompson.”
Jail Seamen. pic.twitter.com/yGKnpGURkl
— Paul A. Szypula 🇺🇸 (@Bubblebathgirl) April 5, 2025
The audience’s reaction was equally troubling, as they responded with applause to Seaman’s threatening remarks.
Cotton immediately addressed the threat, stating, “You don’t always have your life threatened right here, and that guy Ian Seaman, he absolutely just did threaten my life. From my exercising representative government and democracy and the First Amendment, that’s pretty disconcerting.”
He further expressed concern about the celebration of violence he’s witnessed online regarding Thompson’s murder, noting how disturbing it was to see someone publicly voice such sentiments.
Ian Seaman allegedly threatened a member of the Grosse Pointe Public Schools Board of Education, a school board in Michigan, with a reference to Luigi Mangione.
Read more: https://t.co/vG17fh8epp pic.twitter.com/oaWYU3x2lJ
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) April 4, 2025
In a subsequent interview with Michigan Capitol Confidential, Cotton revealed that Seaman’s reference to Luigi wasn’t coincidental, suggesting the activist was aware of Cotton’s family’s previous ownership of local hospitals. Cotton also pointed out that Seaman’s primary complaint about flag policies was entirely unfounded, as no such policies exist in Grosse Pointe Schools.
Following the incident, Cotton filed a police report after Seaman left the premises. As of now, no charges have been filed against the activist.
