#freemasonique

[queensugardaily]

dawnlyen Working with @weinspirejustice on this campaign to #FreeMasonique — a little known but important case happening now in Columbus, Ohio. Info👇🏽urgent action needed: ****** In December, Columbus Police killed 16-year-old Julius Tate Jr, shooting him five times. Six days later, Columbus Police charged Julius’ girlfriend, Masonique Saunders, with aggravated robbery and a controversial charge known as felony murder. It’s controversial because of an Ohio statute which says that if a police officer kills someone suspected of committing a felony, anyone “proximate” to that death can be charged with the murder. This charge is rarely used & has actually been abolished in several states, and the concern in this case goes beyond its constitutionality. Witnesses (including Masonique) are saying that her boyfriend Julius was unarmed and that the police went inside the house to get a gun that they are now saying he was armed with. Masonique was planning to testify to this and was arrested 6 days after the killing — one day after Julius Tate’s family threatened a lawsuit against the Columbus Police for unlawful death. Since December, Masonique has been imprisoned in the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center without bail, mourning the death of her boyfriend without the support of counseling, family, or friends. And because Masonique was only 16 when Julius was killed, pinning his death on her means that prosecutor Ron O’Brien is attempting to prosecute her in adult court. On May 9th, Masonique has a hearing to determine whether she should be tried as an adult. Before then, we are asking you to stand in support of Masonique! Children don’t belong in adult court, and Officer Eric Richards should be held responsible for the murder he committed. In solidarity with the Coalition to #FreeMasonique: -Sign the petition to in my story -Write a post in support of Masonique, tagging @freemasonique and @columbus_police_ -Donate to Masonique’s legal fees at https://www.gofundme.com/free-masonique-legal-fees and get involved with the National Week of Action at freemasonique.home.blog -Call Prosecutor Ron O’Brien 614-525-3555 & demand Masonique’s release.

[rapeculturerealities]

Protesters to #FreeMasonique shut down busy North High Street during gallery hop, CBJ game

Dozens of protesters organized an effort Saturday night that blocked North High Street and called for a massive Columbus Police mobilization, as they continue calling attention to the case of Masonique Saunders.

Saunders, 16, is currently being held in the Franklin County Jail on a murder charge. The prosecutor's office charged Saunders under Ohio's "felony murder rule," which allows an accomplice to a crime to be charged for their co-conspirators' death, if the death happens during the commission of a crime.

Saunders' boyfriend Julius Tate was shot and killed by the Columbus Police SWAT team on December 7th last year, during what police said was an undercover sting attempting to shut down a series of armed robberies on the east side. Police said Tate pulled a gun on an undercover officer, and another hidden SWAT member shot Tate to protect the officer.

The prosecutor's office later named Saunders as an accomplice in the alleged armed robberies, and charged her with murder for Tate's death.

Protestors on Saturday night sought to call attention to the case, and to Saunders' time in the Franklin County Jail awaiting trial, since her arrest on December 13th. Three protesters were arrested after chaining themselves to a car that was parked in the middle of North High Street to block traffic.

The entire ordeal lasted around 90 minutes, with North High Street closed off for around 35 minutes to remove the chained protesters from the street, according to Columbus Police.

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[leocurrently]

#freemasonique https://www.instagram.com/p/BxEloI6giGC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=19fz1v6l4qiuy