Community activists lead by DeKalb NAACP President John Evans, Senator Vincent Fort, and former Atlanta City Councilman Derrick Boazman are rallying today at 10:00am sharp at the DeKalb County Courthouse requesting DeKalb County Solicitor Sherry Boston to drop all recent charges against Mark Harris. At the least, they are calling on Solicitor Boston to allow Harris to be represented by the lawyer of his choice.
Harris, a 21-year veteran of the United States Army was unlawfully evicted from his Avondale Estate home at gunpoint by the DeKalb County Marshall’s Office August of last year. In a recent motion filed by the Solicitor’s Office, Boston is seeking to disqualify Attorney Mawuli Davis from representing Mark Harris. Her office does not want Attorney Davis to represent Harris because he represents the other protestors. The Solicitor’s office went even further by requesting that Attorney Davis be completely out of the case and not be allowed to represent any of the activists, including veteran Mark Harris.
Harris along with the other three activists are being charged with criminal trespass for refusing to leave the property in an effort to save the home of Mr. Harris, where he had lived for 18 years. The hearing is set for Monday, March 31st at 9:00am in Court Room D on the 3rd floor. Activists vow to protest and fill the courtroom in support of Mark Harris.
Community Activist Derrick Boazman stated why this case is so important,
“Long before DeKalb Solicitor Sherry Boston ever saw the inside of a courtroom, Mark Harris was standing in the desert being shot at defending with his life the very freedoms and Constitution that she swore to uphold. It’s sickening that this solicitor would use the court time and resources to prosecute Mark Harris and the others who were simply trying to help save his home. He fought for our country and we intend to fight for him. This “persecution” disguised as a prosecution needs to stop now.”
Representation from the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement, For the People FTP Movement, New Order, National Action Network, Rev. Tim McDonald, Pastor First Iconium Baptist Church, Rev. Derrick Rice Pastor of Sankofa United Church of Christ and Occupy Our Homes Atlanta are all expected to speak during the rally.
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