FLINT, MI -- Flint City Council members are split on whether to declare October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month, with some saying the declaration was introduced to embarrass a colleague facing felony assault and domestic violence charges.

A final vote on the resolution could come on Monday, Oct. 27, after it was approved 5-2 during a committee meeting this week.

The resolution makes no mention of the pending criminal case faced by Councilman Leon El-Alamin (Ward 1) in Genesee Circuit Court, but two council members -- Ladel Lewis (Ward 2) and Judy Priestley (Ward 4) -- withheld their support.

Lewis said the resolution amounted to a cheap shot at El-Alamin, who maintains he’s innocent of the charges against him.

El-Alamin did not attend the committee meeting on Wednesday, Oct. 2

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