Peaceful protestors can rejoice after Detroit officials dismiss citations issued during Black Lives Matter Protests.
What We Know:
- On Tuesday, the Detroit Corporation Counsel, Lawrence Garcia, announced that protestors who participated in demonstrations against police brutality amid the death of George Floyd would not be facing charges. Between May 31st and June 2nd of last year, protestors were given misdemeanors for violating a mandated 8 p.m. curfew.
- Garcia commented on the decision telling The Associated Press, “Although certain cases from these two dates will be pursued, the city believes it is best to dismiss the vast majority of citations.” According to U.S. News, the decision will go on to dismiss 238 of the 245 tickets issued within those three days. Other violations that may not be dismissed include tickets for disruptive or violent behavior.
- Cities throughout the U.S., such as Los Angeles and Denver, are taking a similar approach by choosing not to charge those who participated in the weeks-long protests that occurred last summer. Former Minneapolis police officer, Derek Chauvin, is responsible for fatally placing a knee on Floyd’s neck last May. The death of George Floyd sparked movements across the nation against racial injustice.
- Since then, Chauvin is scheduled to stand trial in March for second-degree murder. The three other former officers, J. Alexander Kueng, Thomas K. Lane, and Tou Thao, are scheduled to be tried later this August on charges of aiding and abetting second-degree murder and aiding and abetting second-degree manslaughter.
After the unstable climate the country has endured the past year, this promising move across various cities will continue to let protestors be heard.
