RIGHT TO ASSEMBLE
Who does the right apply to? Reopen advocates, Antifa, Governor Cooper or everyone?
Whether you like the NC Governor Roy Cooper(D) or not, it is likely you saw him (here) photographed and highlighted in corporate media news outlets as he demonstrated in a march around the Executive Mansion. That was June 2020. What changed between the lockdown timeframe of March and June of 2020? Not much. The Governor’s edicts stayed in place until August of 2022… WOW. It makes sense however, because we all saw the massive tentacles of the State reach down on us to push it’s idea of what a model citizen was… ermm… is.
It is also likely you saw a peaceable assembly was terminated on April 14, 2020 due to (more State) Raleigh, NCGA and Capitol Police threatening arrests as people walked around in protest of what they felt were unlawful stay-at-home orders from one politician which you can read about here. One woman, Monica Ussery, was arrested, taken into custody and charged with violating an executive order… but no thanks to District Attorney Laurin Freeman.
“I did authorize that charge,” she said. “We will evaluate it and try to make a determination based on the evidence. I certainly respect the role of civil disobedience. At the end of the day, our responsibility is to uphold the law, and we will do that.”
My God! She should’ve went into comedy instead of law!
This narrative is so weird. If all persons complied -as the narrative reads- with the Officer’s request for people to leave, then wouldn’t that leave Ussery as the lone person in the parking lot across from the NC Archives and actually not in violation of a mass gathering? Isn’t that an individual gathering?
So, what law says Ussery cannot protest? Would the same law stop Cooper and other groups who practically propelled downtown Raleigh to morph into a graffiti plywood paradise after months of looting and rioting in the streets? Ussery wasn’t just charged with violating an executive order. Months later on April Fool’s Day- as if a tentacle from the NC Governor’s Office wanted to slap her in the face- a trespass charge was added on before the statute of limitations ran out. It’s a total freak show.
What’s worse, Ussery has not had prompt justice. Remember, this ordeal began April 14, 2020. On June 4, 2021 the District Judge sided with Officer Proctor and the DA and you can see that update here in a short YouTube clip after the hearing.
It took a ridiculous amount of time for Ussery to have access to the body camera footage and last we spoke she was under a gag order, but she was able to report the footage exonerates her. For now, the tapes are not viewable by the public and we are left to wonder if she will ever see the justice she deserves.
For now, we must offer our help to Monica Ussery and her legal team. I don’t want your money and there will be no online fundraiser, but I urge you send checks to her legal team as the bill adds up quickly and has already reached thousands in fees.
Mail Donations To:
Matter #40153 (Include this on your check)
ENVISAGE LAW
A Pinna, Biller, Burwell, Black & Finch Firm
Post Office Box 31788
Raleigh, North Carolina 27622-1788
(919) 755-1317
Please help by sharing with friends, family and networks so she is not stuck with this financial burden. No amount is too small!