National

Charges Dropped Against Student Whose Arrest Sparked Outrage

Published

9 years ago

June 12, 2015

Martese Johnson, left, speaks with reporters outside the Charlottesville General District Court with attorney Daniel Watkins after all charges against Johnson were officially dropped, Friday, June 12, 2015, in Charlottesville, Va. Johnson received two misdemeanor charges after a March 18 arrest left him bloodied, requiring 10 stitches. (Ryan M. Kelly/The Daily Progress via AP)

LARRY O’DELL, Associated Press

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — A University of Virginia student who was bloodied by state liquor agents during an arrest that sparked a public uproar said he was “ecstatic” that charges against him were dismissed Friday.

Martese Johnson, who is black, told reporters that he believes race was a factor in his arrest and that his ordeal has reinforced his desire to work for social justice.

“I’ve always been passionate about social justice and the plight of minority communities in this country, but this took it to another level,” Johnson said outside Charlottesville General District Court, where a judge accepted a prosecutor’s recommendation to dismiss charges of resisting arrest without force and public intoxication or swearing.

Alcoholic Beverage Control Department agents arrested the 20-year-old Chicago junior outside a bar across the street from campus March 18. The arrest received widespread attention with photos and videos on social media showing Johnson pinned to the ground, his face bloodied. Johnson could be heard on the video recording calling the officers racist.

Gov. Terry McAuliffe ordered a state police investigation of the arrest. Commonwealth’s Attorney Dave Chapman said in court that after reviewing the findings of that investigation, he determined that “the interest of justice is best served” by dropping the prosecution. He said in a statement Thursday night that the arresting officers won’t face charges, either.

Johnson said he was fine with that decision because he believes “society as a whole” is largely to blame for the incident. He also said that while race was a factor, poor training and the “over-militarization” of police forces also played a role.

ABC said in a statement that the arresting officers will remain on desk duty until the agency receives results of a separate state police administrative review of the incident.

In addition to the state police investigations, McAuliffe ordered retraining of ABC agents and appointed a task force to examine the agency’s law enforcement officers. One issue before the panel, which will make its recommendations by Nov. 1, is whether the ABC should be stripped of arrest powers.

The Johnson’s incident came two years after another U.Va. student was arrested outside a supermarket by ABC agents who mistook a carton of sparkling water for beer. Undercover agents swarmed Elizabeth Daly’s vehicle, one pulling a gun and another trying to break her windshield with a flashlight. The incident sparked a public backlash, and she settled a lawsuit for $212,500.

Defense attorney Daniel P. Watkins declined to say whether Johnson would file a lawsuit. Watkins said the main goals of eliminating Johnson’s criminal liability and protecting his reputation were met with the dismissal of the charges.

Johnson, who needed 10 stitches to close a gash on his head after the arrest, said he appreciated the outpouring of support, including 300 text messages the morning after his arrest.

Two days later, about 500 students demanded answers about the arrest and about ABC tactics during a forum at U.Va. Dissatisfied with responses that they considered too broad, representatives of a black students’ organization shouted in unison, “Answer the question we asked.” They marched out, fists raised and chanting “Black lives matter.”

Chapman said the dialogue will continue with a public meeting about the incident Wednesday. It’s Johnson’s 21st birthday. He said he will be there.

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Barbara Lee

Congresswoman Barbara Lee Issues Statement on Deaths of Humanitarian Aid Volunteers in Gaza 

On April 2, a day after an Israeli airstrike erroneously killed seven employees of World Central Kitchen (WCK), a humanitarian organization delivering aid in the Gaza Strip, a statement was release by Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA-12). “This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

Published

2 days ago

April 17, 2024

Oakland Post

Congresswoman Barbara Lee

By California Black Media

“This is a devastating and avoidable tragedy. My prayers go to the families and loved ones of the selfless members of the World Central Kitchen team whose lives were lost,” said Lee.

The same day, it was confirmed by the organization that the humanitarian aid volunteers were killed in a strike carried out by Israel Defense Forces (IDF). Prior to the incident, members of the team had been travelling in two armored vehicles marked with the WCF logo and they had been coordinating their movements with the IDF. The group had successfully delivered 10 tons of humanitarian food in a deconflicted zone when its convoy was struck.

“This is not only an attack against WCK. This is an attack on humanitarian organizations showing up in the direst situations where food is being used as a weapon of war. This is unforgivable,” said Erin Gore, chief executive officer of World Central Kitchen.

The seven victims included a U.S. citizen as well as others from Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Palestine.

Lee has been a vocal advocate for a ceasefire in Gaza and has supported actions by President Joe Biden to airdrop humanitarian aid in the area.

“Far too many civilians have lost their lives as a result of Benjamin Netanyahu’s reprehensible military offensive. The U.S. must join with our allies and demand an immediate, permanent ceasefire – it’s long overdue,” Lee said.

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Commentary

Commentary: Republican Votes Are Threatening American Democracy

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day. We needed to know the blunt truth. The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

Published

2 days ago

April 16, 2024

Oakland Post

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening. That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

By Emil Guillermo

In many ways, it was great that the Iowa Caucuses were on the same day as Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

We needed to know the blunt truth.

The takeaway message after the Iowa Caucuses where Donald Trump finished more than 30 points in front of Florida Gov. De Santis and former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley boils down to this: Our democracy is threatened, for real.

And to save it will require all hands on deck.

It was strange for Iowans to caucus on MLK day. It had a self-cancelling effect. The day that honored America’s civil rights and anti-discrimination hero was negated by evening.

That’s when one of the least diverse states in the nation let the world know that white Americans absolutely love Donald Trump. No ifs, ands or buts.

No man is above the law? To the majority of his supporters, it seems Trump is.

It’s an anti-democracy loyalty that has spread like a political virus.

No matter what he does, Trump’s their guy. Trump received 51% of caucus-goers votes to beat Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who garnered 21.2%, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, who got 19.1%.

The Asian flash in the pan Vivek Ramaswamy finished way behind and dropped out. Perhaps to get in the VP line. Don’t count on it.

According to CNN’s entrance polls, when caucus-goers were asked if they were a part of the “MAGA movement,” nearly half — 46% — said yes. More revealing: “Do you think Biden legitimately won in 2020?”

Only 29% said “yes.”

That means an overwhelming 66% said “no,” thus showing the deep roots in Iowa of the “Big Lie,” the belief in a falsehood that Trump was a victim of election theft.

Even more revealing and posing a direct threat to our democracy was the question of whether Trump was fit for the presidency, even if convicted of a crime.

Sixty-five percent said “yes.”

Who says that about anyone of color indicted on 91 criminal felony counts?

Would a BIPOC executive found liable for business fraud in civil court be given a pass?

How about a BIPOC person found liable for sexual assault?

Iowans have debased the phrase, “no man is above the law.” It’s a mindset that would vote in an American dictatorship.

Compare Iowa with voters in Asia last weekend. Taiwan rejected threats from authoritarian Beijing and elected pro-democracy Taiwanese vice president Lai Ching-te as its new president.

Meanwhile, in our country, which supposedly knows a thing or two about democracy, the Iowa caucuses show how Americans feel about authoritarianism.

Some Americans actually like it even more than the Constitution allows.

About the Author

Emil Guillermo is a journalist and commentator. He does a mini-talk show on YouTube.com/@emilamok1.