Rally is demanding that charges against Tally 19 protesters be dropped before next week’s trial

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Members of the Tallahassee Community Action Committee held a rally outside the Leon County Courthouse Thursday lunchtime showing their support for Ben Grant, the only Tally 19 protester charged with a crime.

Grant and 18 others were arrested in connection with a protest against Black Lives Matter on September 5, 2020.

Grant was charged with battery by a law enforcement officer. His case has been postponed several times but has been confirmed to begin on Monday November 1st during a pre-trial hearing.

His attorney, Mutaqee Akbar, says unseen body camera footage from that day is on his client’s side.

“The Bodycam evidence will show Mr. Grant participated in a protest peacefully, and law enforcement took it to another level themselves, and Mr. Grant did nothing wrong that day,” Akbar said. “A lot is going to come out, a lot more that has never come out before, and we are also in the process of filing some motions on the offense cases that will resolve these too.”

The likely affidavit for Grant’s arrest states that he quoted “punched and clawed” on the arm of an officer while trying to prevent the arrest of another protester

Grant argues that the situation turned out differently.

“If you watch the videos, it’s pretty clear that the officers committed the battery that day,” he said.

About a dozen supporters attended Thursday’s rally and attended Grant’s pre-trial hearing.

“We think that’s unjust. We think it’s wrong. We think it’s ridiculous that things should continue like this, ”said Delilah Pierre.

“I fundamentally believe in the importance of protest and the right to speak up in this nation,” said another participant at the rally.

Tallahassee Students for a Democratic Society also supported Tally 19.

“That fight didn’t end in summer 2020 and it won’t end with Tally 19,” said Alex Carson.

Grant says waiting over a year for trial took a toll on him.

“While I’m pretty confident of what the result will be, I still don’t know, and it just causes a lot of stress. There is nothing you can do about it until the trial is due, ”he said.

WCTV has approached Attorney Jack Campbell for comment but has not yet received a response.

Copyright 2021 WCTV. All rights reserved.

The post Rally is demanding that charges against Tally 19 protesters be dropped before next week’s trial first appeared on Daily Florida Press.

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