Following the protests after the homicide of George Floyd on Might 25, 2020, hundreds of individuals took to the streets in Florida to protest police brutality, which led to arrests of a number of people who now face fees for his or her actions.
Jamie Bullock and Chukwudi Uche had been accused of hanging an officer and carrying a hid firearm, respectively, throughout a July 4 protest on North Dale Mabry Freeway in Tampa final 12 months, in line with the Tampa Bay Occasions. Bullock allegedly used power in opposition to an officer and Uche threw a water bottle then ran to cover in a close-by automotive, the place an officer discovered him and found a firearm in his backpack. Each offenses carry jail time of as much as 5 years.
Their attorneys argued in court docket in September that law enforcement officials had been utilizing extreme power in opposition to what was an in any other case peaceable protest. The defendants solely reacted to officers releasing pepper spray to disperse the group.
Bullock and Uche shouldn’t be charged for exercising their proper to peacefully assemble. Protesters ought to have the flexibility to face their floor and assert their proper to talk freely about police brutality and different injustices in America.
Fees of illegal meeting for the 2 people had been dropped by Hillsborough Circuit Choose Mark Kiser on Sept. 28. Although a small accomplishment, they may nonetheless need to struggle to take away fees concerning hanging an officer and possessing a hid weapon.
Florida legislators are already making it their job to guard police and dismiss the considerations of protesters.
Following quite a few Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the “anti-riot” invoice, or HB 1, April 17 which elevated felony penalties towards defacing public property and assaulting law enforcement officials throughout a riot. The regulation would additionally penalize any native authorities wishing to intrude with the way in which regulation enforcement accommodates riots.
HB 1 was blocked quickly after being signed into regulation. U.S. District Choose Mark E. Walker not too long ago prevented enforcement of HB 1 in Florida on Sept. 9, stating the invoice is just too imprecise and dangers assaulting free speech.
It’s worrying that elected officers in Florida instantly sided with regulation enforcement after these protests. However by means of supporting Bullock, Uche and inspiring Kiser to drop the fees, we are able to hold combating in opposition to police brutality and for the rights of Florida residents.
