MOBB United for Social Change demands justice for DeAndre Harris.
Moms of Black Boys United for Social Change stands with DeAndre Harris to demand justice. Since the deadly August 12th, "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Virginia local police and law enforcement authorities have failed to bring DeAndre's attackers to justice. On August 12th, DeAndre was attacked by a group of white supremacists and brutally beaten with clubs and poles, resulting in 8 stitches in his head, a broken wrist and chipped teeth. The incident was witnessed by Charlottesville police who stood nearby as DeAndre was beaten; it was also video recorded and photographed by bystanders and journalists who were present. The video of the incident has gone viral and for weeks activists have called upon Charlottesville police to work with law enforcement agencies across the country to identify, arrest and charge the white supremacist aggressors. There has been some progress, the progress has been a result of direct pressure and the assistance of volunteers to identify and locate DeAndre's attackers. To date all four attackers have been identified and only two arrested and charged.
DeAndre's case however, has taken a sickening turn. Rather than continuing to investigate and prosecute this grave injustice, Charlottesville police and magistrates have succumbed to pressure from White Supremacist groups and have issued an arrest warrant for DeAndre in connection to this attack. The video shows clearly that to the extent that DeAndre engaged with the group that surrounded him and a friend, brandishing clubs and poles before they attacked him, it was to defend himself and his friend.
Charlottesville police and law enforcement officials are demonstrating not just a failure to fully investigate this hate crime but with this move, they demonstrate the clear bias and villainizing of the true victim. Additionally, issuing a warrant to the victim is retaliatory in nature, meant to intimidate DeAndre and his family.
Moms of Black Boys United for Social Change will not stand by and watch the further victimization of another son, DeAndre. To arrest DeAndre in light of the video evidence is tantamount to witness intimidation and is a grave injustice. It empowers white supremacists and other hate groups to continue violent attacks on innocent citizens.
We demand that the Charlottesville police focus on bringing DeAndre's aggressors to justice and would like to see a full transparent investigation of this incident by the State of Virginia.
We are demanding that Charlottesville Police Department withdraw the arrest warrant and focus on prosecuting the actual crime, the malicious beating of DeAndre.
Call To Action
Please call the city officials listed below and request the following:
- Continued search for and arrest of DeAndre's fourth attacker.
- An immediate, transparent investigation of the incident as a hate crime
- Revoke the arrest warrant issued for DeAndre
Al S. Thomas, Sr, Chief of Police, Charlottesville, VA
1-434-970-3280
Paige Rice, City Council, Clerk
1-434-970-3113
[email protected]
Maurice Jones, City Manager, Charlottesville, VA
[email protected]
M.O.B.B. United for Social Change, Inc. is a nationwide coalition of moms who are dedicated to making the world a safer place for Black boys and men by eradicating harassment, brutality and unwarranted use of deadly force by law enforcement against our sons. The group was born out of frustration over the deaths of Alton Sterling, Philando Castile in Minnesota and numerous other innocent Black boys and men killed by police before and after them. It has grown into a mobilized force of moms determined to make a difference. We aim to influence both policy and perception that impact how Black boys and men are treated by law enforcement.