For Immediate Release
Please call (901) 413-0203 or email information@BoyceWatkins.com for interviews
Kennett, MO. – Heather Ellis, a young college student out of Kennett, MO is now facing 15 years in prison if she is sentenced after being accused of cutting line at a local Walmart. Her case has gotten the attention of the nation, and has been the subject of extensive online protests.
Heather was in a Walmart store 3 years ago with her cousin. The two split up to find the shortest line. Since her cousin was in the shorter line, Heather joined him. That’s when the clerk accused Heather of cutting in front of the other customers. An argument ensued, leading to the manager and security guard being called, and finally the police.
The incident left Ellis, an honor student on her way to medical school, charged with disturbing the peace, trespassing and two counts of assaulting a police officer. After Heather refused to sign a plea agreement, Stephen Sokoloff, the town’s prosecutor, filed felony charges against Heather.
Ellis goes on trial on November 15th and faces 15 years in prison. The community has expressed its outrage with rallies and protests, which have led to threats from the Ku Klux Klan. A police officer delivered a card to the family from the Klan and Heather’s father believes that the officer’s delivery of the card was part of a broader plot to intimidate the family. He also argues that Walmart should release the surveillance tape to show that his daughter is innocent.
Dr. Boyce Watkins, a prominent black professor at Syracuse University, has stepped in to become involved in Heather’s case. Watkins, along with the Your Black World Coalition and National Action Network, have created a website, “SaveHeatherEllis.com,” and have generated thousands of signatures in support of her case. He has also called for the prosecutor in the case, Stephen Sokoloff, to be investigated by the Justice Department.
“I have spoken with the family and other residents of the Kennett community, and the truth is that there does not appear to be justice for African Americans in this town,” says Dr. Watkins, who appears weekly on the Al Sharpton Radio show. “This requires that the prosecutor be made to realize that his power is not omnipotent and that he cannot destroy lives at his own discretion.”
Watkins is planning to participate in a rally to be held in Kennett at the courthouse near the date of the November 18th trial. The date and location for the rally have not been set, as the family has received resistance when attempting to get permits to hold rallies. For more information, you can visit SaveHeatherEllis.com or you can join the Your Black World Coalition by visiting www.YourBlackWorld.com.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a professor at Syracuse University and Resident Scholar for AOL Black Voices. He is also the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. For interviews with Dr. Watkins or a family member of Heather Ellis, please call (901) 413-0203 or email information@boycewatkins.com. ###
DAME ANOTHER STORE I CAN NOT SHOP AT!!!!
ReplyDeleteBOYCOTT!!!!
I CAN'T GELIEVE THIS RIDICULOUS S*IT!
ReplyDelete"Civil" I agree with you, I think everybody that believe in Justic, Black, White and Other Should Boycott Wal-Mart.
ReplyDeleteIf there is a Protect going on in Southern California please post info Dr Boyce Watkins.
I would like to join the Protect.
Why don't somebody tell those people that the Civil War is over and that they lost.
J.T.
This is incredible but some of those die-hard southern scum like to say this is the south like its a religous sect or something!!!!!
ReplyDeleteI remember reading in Georgia some schools disallowed talk about Obama being elected president because this is the south.WEST TAKING THE MICROPHONE FROM SWIFT GETS SO MUCH AIRTIME BUT THIS DOESN'T????????? JOE WILSON REMAINS IN THE SONS OF THE CONFEDERACY.WHAT THE HELL & THERE ARE SOME AFRICAN-AMERICAN (MEMBERS IN THAT TERRORIST GROUP)!!!!!!!!! CHECKOUT THE SOUTHERN POVERTY LAW CENTER WEB SITE.
Um, that's Missouri, not the South. Missouri was a "border state" that fought on the Union side. If you're gonna slam somebody at least get your history straight.
ReplyDeleteAnd I live in Ohio in a city with a black mayor and black school superintendant and there is STILL racism going on here. At least in the South they are obvious about it. Up North they pretend it isn't happening while they shuffle all the black folks off into the worse parts of town. Whatever helps them sleep at night, I guess.
Uh, Dana, Missouri was split during the Civil War with the Southern part fighting for the Confederacy. Kennett MO is in the bootheel which dips into Arkansas - it's a lot closer to Memphis TN than St. Louis MO. Just sayin'.
ReplyDeleteDana...Not entirely true. Kennett(where this occurred) is in Southeast MO which has had a "platation culture" since the early 1800's. Cotton was a prominent crop and the dialect is absolutely Southern. Note that it borders Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas....I don't think there's an argument that they are Southern states...but then again, I'm just a black dude from the North...lol
ReplyDeleteGET UP STAND UP. STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHTS.
ReplyDeleteThe World must learn that human beings, in the deepest recondits of our being, we have more in common than uncommon. That we have a common ancestry regardles of theories of creation and evolution.
I have been saying for 15+ years that Wal-Mart is an evil Corporation that hates the poor and working class People, If they are allowed to sucseed and puts out all other buisness those low prices you see will be higher than a tourist trap C-Store and wages will be at an all-time low.
ReplyDeletei can not believe this crapola. I am sorry someone has to go through such a ridiculous amount of crap over someting so trival and just plain dum.... I hope justice comes and she is taken care of and she should be compensated for everything she has had to endure. How shameful. This world amazes me. It is just stupid , stupid , stupid. I live in Australia and we do not have WALMART , but if we did i would boycott it for sure.
ReplyDeleteThis is a sad world. The only thing they understand is blood shed. The Indians was smart. They ambushed back. Do back what people do to you. Don't complain unless you are going to do something about it. I will never shop at wal mart.I never liked their cheap products. Plus, the food they sell gives you the Sh*ts. People I know bought food from there. Of course they don't anymore...
ReplyDeleteDisgusting. A better use of this taxpayer money might be to send this accomplished and intelligent young woman to medical school, where she'd be given the opportunity to right the "wrongs" that she's apparently put upon her community. What a joke, honestly... and at Wal Mart?? They should be thanking their lucky happy faces if a girl joining her cousin in line is the biggest problem they have in their store. What a waste of money and resources. Congratulations, Kennett! It's your week to be the laughingstock of the nation. Get a freekin' grip.
ReplyDelete@dana,
ReplyDelete"if you're south of the canadian border, you're south." Malcolm X
I wrote to the Governor's wife. This is an issue about a woman being abused, not just a black issue. Here is the response I got, and I urge all of you to email, write, call or do something other than just be mad.
ReplyDeleteDear Ms. Ollie-Coleman,
Thank you for your note of concern for Ms. Heather Ellis. I am happy to
share this concern with the Constituent Support office and they will
find you help through the appropriate state agency. Thank you for your
commitment to another human being.
Mrs. Debbie Brunner
Special Assistant to First Lady Georganne Wheeler Nixon
Governor's Mansion
100 Madison Street
Jefferson City, Missouri 65101
573-690-0641
This is such a heart-breaking story, I can't believe the surveillance tapes haven't been released, that would surely vindicate her.
ReplyDeleteJust be a christian like Robert E. Lee or Jefferson Davis, Boy I am going to pay hell for this. But plesae read some history other than what you have been lead to belive in. We as Southerorn Blacks and Whites have a common family and hertiage, our goverment has pitted us aganiest each other because they could profit from it. Remember Lincoln did not free any salves from the USA.
ReplyDeleteevery one reading this or hearing about this that wants justice to be done could begin by expressing your disgust to wal-mart
ReplyDeleteif we boycott boy will they get the message
the least wal-mart could do is to pay for their legal fees and to pay for heather's medical education to become a doctor
Instead of trying to put a human being in jail for cutting the line in Wal-Mart, we should focus our attention/taxpayers dollars on finding missing people...I will NEVER shop in Wal-Mart as long as they are in business....
ReplyDeleteBoycotting Walmart may make us feel better but the real problem here concerns PEOPLE not the business itself. The fault lies with the PERSON who hired them (cashier, Mgr, Security), the supervisors who allowed them to remain working there, and the belief that we can do what we want, when we want.If you can honestly say that you've never gotten upset when you feel someone has cut in line, you should cover your face. But no matter what this young lady SHOULD NOT go to jail for 15 Years.
ReplyDeleteDr. Boyce Watkins, founder of the Your Black World Coalition, is planning a rally/march 11 a.m. Nov. 16 in Kennett, starting at the Walmart where Heather was arrested, and is encouraging people from all over to participate in support. Rev. Bonner said he is hoping for a turn out to rival the march in support of the Jena 6. They are also hoping the event will raise funds to help Heather's family the expenses related to this lengthy ordeal.
ReplyDeleteWhy is a young woman, a med student, with no record of problems with the police, facing a possible 15 years behind bars for a minor altercation at at Wal-Mart checkout counter? I feel like Wal-Mart has some heavy duty explaining to do and should be taking every step to ensure us that they will not stand by and let this one pass. If not we need to seriously consider the possibility that they don't appreciate our patronage.
I hope those who attend the Journey for Justice in Kennett will form a core of people from around the country who bring home a plan of action, so we are able to present a unified to all those entities that are trying to railroad this young sister. It has to be set up in a way that we can continue to work together cause you know this isn't the first or last time.
Walmart India is a known corporate terrorist that has reached to the top by kicking, and hurting all the people connected to their warped system. However, we should realise the fact that the people behind this corporate beast have been manipulating humanity for a long time.
ReplyDeleteNot right...racist,racist jst plain old racism lets not forget Sean Bell case in New York...do you think u will rap us up again and enslave us,I Think not!!! No Walmart In New York but there custermer service is not right,what about the customer is always right. Could have been handle differently on the managers the Half.
ReplyDelete