FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 11/15/2009) Support for a young woman facing prison time for cutting in line at a Walmart is growing.
She is set to go to trial in nearby Kennett, MO Wednesday. She faces up to 15 years in prison for allegedly assaulting police officers during the incident. Monday, November 16th, a big rally and march are planned in the small town to protest.
Sycracuse professor Dr. Boyce Watkins and his team are in the Midsouth this week hoping to call attention to the case of Heather Ellis, a young college student who's medical career is sidelined by an incident in her hometown of Kennett, Missouri.
"I realized that Heather could be anybody's child and I said if this were my child I would want somebody to at least do their best to help her," said Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse professor and activist.
This started in 2007 with Heather allegedly cutting in line at a Kennett Walmart and creating a disturbance at the store. It ends with her facing up to 15 years in prison for allegedly assaulting police officers. Police say in court documents that Ellis refused requests to calm down and leave the property, allegedly kicking one's shin and splitting another's lip while resisting arrest.
Watkins who's seen the store surveillance video says no assault is on tape.
"This is the kind of case that would stand up if no one were watching," said Watkins.
People are watching. Heather Ellis' story is getting national attention on radio and television. Piquing the national media's interest is the Klan's alleged involvement. Before an earlier protest march, a Kennett police officer paid a visit to Ellis' relatives and handed them cards that said "You've just been paid a social visit by the Ku Klux Klan. The next visit will not be social". The officer says he was only letting them know he'd found the cards. Heather's family believes it was a threat. However, neither they nor their supporters are backing down.
"Heather can't get into medical school with these charges hanging over her head. We want the charges dropped. We want to allow Heather to move forward and that's what we're fighting for," said Watkins.
A caravan of church buses and cars are set to meet up at the National Civil Rights Museum at 6:45 Monday morning for the march and rally that begins in Kennett, MO at 11 a.m. The march begins where the incident all started, at the Walmart store.
- Young woman accused of cutting in line then assaulting officers at Walmart faces 15 years in prison
- Heather Ellis getting national attention
- March and Rally planned prior to trial this week
(Memphis 11/15/2009) Support for a young woman facing prison time for cutting in line at a Walmart is growing.
She is set to go to trial in nearby Kennett, MO Wednesday. She faces up to 15 years in prison for allegedly assaulting police officers during the incident. Monday, November 16th, a big rally and march are planned in the small town to protest.
Sycracuse professor Dr. Boyce Watkins and his team are in the Midsouth this week hoping to call attention to the case of Heather Ellis, a young college student who's medical career is sidelined by an incident in her hometown of Kennett, Missouri.
"I realized that Heather could be anybody's child and I said if this were my child I would want somebody to at least do their best to help her," said Dr. Boyce Watkins, Syracuse professor and activist.
This started in 2007 with Heather allegedly cutting in line at a Kennett Walmart and creating a disturbance at the store. It ends with her facing up to 15 years in prison for allegedly assaulting police officers. Police say in court documents that Ellis refused requests to calm down and leave the property, allegedly kicking one's shin and splitting another's lip while resisting arrest.
Watkins who's seen the store surveillance video says no assault is on tape.
"This is the kind of case that would stand up if no one were watching," said Watkins.
People are watching. Heather Ellis' story is getting national attention on radio and television. Piquing the national media's interest is the Klan's alleged involvement. Before an earlier protest march, a Kennett police officer paid a visit to Ellis' relatives and handed them cards that said "You've just been paid a social visit by the Ku Klux Klan. The next visit will not be social". The officer says he was only letting them know he'd found the cards. Heather's family believes it was a threat. However, neither they nor their supporters are backing down.
"Heather can't get into medical school with these charges hanging over her head. We want the charges dropped. We want to allow Heather to move forward and that's what we're fighting for," said Watkins.
A caravan of church buses and cars are set to meet up at the National Civil Rights Museum at 6:45 Monday morning for the march and rally that begins in Kennett, MO at 11 a.m. The march begins where the incident all started, at the Walmart store.
