As more information is unfolding in the case of the arrest of University of Virginia student, Martese Johnson, it is looking more like a case of a false or wrongful arrest coupled with race bias and possible excessive force by Alcohol Beverage Control police. When the arrest video was released, few details were known. Police charged Johnson with public intoxication and obstruction of justice (without use of force). Johnson was refused entry into a pub due to under age. New information has surfaced that he did not present a fake ID. Johnson, 20 years old, was too young to enter, according to the policy of the pub and entry was refused. When the ABC police confronted him, they chose to ask questions which he allegedly answered correctly on his name, address and zip code. But somehow that led to the ABC police to arrest him and in the process and bash his head causing the need for 10 stitches. The ABC police have been mostly silent and an investigation is under way. … [Read more...] about Martese Johnson: A Case of False Arrest and Racial Bias
Martese Johnson
Why the Case of U VA Student Martese Johnson Matters
The case of 20 year old University of Virginia (“U VA”) student, Martese Johnson, beaten, arrested and charged by police with obstruction of justice, public intoxication and swearing should matter to anyone who cares about justice in this country. Mr. Johnson is lucky to be alive today. He could have died a senseless violent death at the hands of the Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control (“ABC”) Board police for being denied entry to a bar on the early morning hours of March 18. The ABC police in front of witnesses bashed Johnson’s face as evident by his bloody face in photos. Eric Garner died at the choking hands of a New York police officer while stopped for allegedly possessing illegal cigarettes. And Michael Brown died a violent death in Ferguson, Missouri for running away from police officer Darren Wilson. Twelve year old Tamir Rice died a violent death for playing with a toy BB gun on a playground in Cleveland as his sister watched nearby. And countless other unnamed young … [Read more...] about Why the Case of U VA Student Martese Johnson Matters