(Cahokia, IL) — A Metro East trustee is planning to file a federal lawsuit against the Village of Cahokia. Jerry Nichols claims his right to free speech was violated. He was removed from a board meeting early this week. Nichols was questioning how the village could pay the salaries of some officials. Meanwhile, Mayor Curtis McCall’s administration released a statement calling Nichols disruptive. Cahokia board meetings have been intense since Mayor McCall fired ten village employees, including Nichols’ wife.