FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 10/07/2009) The family of college student, Heather Ellis, uses the National Civil Rights Museum as a back drop to tell their story of what they call modern day injustice in the small town of Kennett, MO. Ellis' story is gaining ground on the internet and with organizations like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Memphis.
"That is totally unacceptable. It was unacceptable 40 years ago when Dr. King was living. It's unacceptable today," said Rev. Dwight Montgomery, SCLC.
The Missouri case started in 2007 with Heather Ellis allegedly cutting in line at a Wal-Mart and creating a disturbance at the store. It ends with her facing up to 15 years in prison for assaulting police officers. Her family says she was the one assaulted. So, in June, minutes before a scheduled protest march started, a Kennett police officer paid a visit to their homes and handed them cards.
"I held it up and looked at it and of course I was startled by it and I said it's not going to change anything. I'm still going to march," said Ellis' aunt, Mildred Whitehorn.
The brown cards with red writing said you've just been paid a social visit by the Ku Klux Klan. The next visit will not be social.
"I consider it a terroristic threat. This organization likes nothing about Black people," said Ellis' aunt, Luetta Wright.
In a police report the officer, Steve Williams, says he was only trying to make the family aware the KKK cards were littered along the march route. Still, the family wants the incident investigated by the U.S. Justice Department. They're also calling for the removal of the prosecutor, Stephen Sokoloff, who talked to us by telephone.
Sokoloff said, "The charges were filed based on the evidence that was presented to me. We tried to resolve this case early on but there was no indication of any desire to do so."
He added, "As far as if there's any kind of personal animosity towards this defendant, I had never ever met her prior to her appearance in court."
Sokoloff says he is trying the case in court, Ellis' family is trying it in the media. Her father admits they are using the media as a tool to get their story out but only because Americans everywhere need to hear what is happening in Kennett.
Nathaniel Ellis said, "This was our best bet to come here to get it out to the world. You know, you hear so much about the American people, what the American people need to know. I think this is what the American people need to know that in the year of 2009, racism is still alive."
The SCLC believes in Ellis' fight to clear her name so strongly, they're holding a benefit concert October 30th at Greenwood C.M.E. Church in Memphis. Money raised will go into a legal defense fund to pay her legal expenses.
- Protest of college student's arrest at Kennett, MO Wal-Mart gains support
- Family says police office tried to intimidate with KKK cards
- Family wants U.S. Justice Department to intervene
(Memphis 10/07/2009) The family of college student, Heather Ellis, uses the National Civil Rights Museum as a back drop to tell their story of what they call modern day injustice in the small town of Kennett, MO. Ellis' story is gaining ground on the internet and with organizations like the Southern Christian Leadership Conference in Memphis.
"That is totally unacceptable. It was unacceptable 40 years ago when Dr. King was living. It's unacceptable today," said Rev. Dwight Montgomery, SCLC.
The Missouri case started in 2007 with Heather Ellis allegedly cutting in line at a Wal-Mart and creating a disturbance at the store. It ends with her facing up to 15 years in prison for assaulting police officers. Her family says she was the one assaulted. So, in June, minutes before a scheduled protest march started, a Kennett police officer paid a visit to their homes and handed them cards.
"I held it up and looked at it and of course I was startled by it and I said it's not going to change anything. I'm still going to march," said Ellis' aunt, Mildred Whitehorn.
The brown cards with red writing said you've just been paid a social visit by the Ku Klux Klan. The next visit will not be social.
"I consider it a terroristic threat. This organization likes nothing about Black people," said Ellis' aunt, Luetta Wright.
In a police report the officer, Steve Williams, says he was only trying to make the family aware the KKK cards were littered along the march route. Still, the family wants the incident investigated by the U.S. Justice Department. They're also calling for the removal of the prosecutor, Stephen Sokoloff, who talked to us by telephone.
Sokoloff said, "The charges were filed based on the evidence that was presented to me. We tried to resolve this case early on but there was no indication of any desire to do so."
He added, "As far as if there's any kind of personal animosity towards this defendant, I had never ever met her prior to her appearance in court."
Sokoloff says he is trying the case in court, Ellis' family is trying it in the media. Her father admits they are using the media as a tool to get their story out but only because Americans everywhere need to hear what is happening in Kennett.
Nathaniel Ellis said, "This was our best bet to come here to get it out to the world. You know, you hear so much about the American people, what the American people need to know. I think this is what the American people need to know that in the year of 2009, racism is still alive."
The SCLC believes in Ellis' fight to clear her name so strongly, they're holding a benefit concert October 30th at Greenwood C.M.E. Church in Memphis. Money raised will go into a legal defense fund to pay her legal expenses.
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