This week, the Rev. Jesse Jackson has agreed to step up for the family of Gabriella Calhoun, the honor student who was beaten unconscious by the police. Calhoun’s case was brought forth on YourBlackWorld.com.
The student says that during a fight that occurred in a parking lot at a Denny’s restaurant, police officers were overzealous in targeting all of the African Americans inside the building.
Calhoun says she didn’t know the young ladies who were fighting and asked why she was being told to leave the restaurant. A few minutes later, she says that an officer touched her, and she reacted without knowing that it was a police officer. At that point, the officer knocked her unconscious, knocked out two of her front teeth and choked her. She also says that she was forced to walk across a crowded restaurant bare-chested and was not given appropriate medical attention in jail.
Rev. Jackson and Rainbow/PUSH are also being supported by Dr. Boyce Watkins, who is going to join Rev. Jackson for a rally in Bloomington, Illinois this week to support the young college student. The incident took place while Calhoun was home from college for the summer after leaving a semester early to attend Wiley College in Texas. She has a 4.0 grade point average.
Chaka Khan came to Chicago and met with Gabriella and her family, encouraging them to remain strong during their ordeal.
“I’ve spoken with Gabby and her mother on multiple occasions, and this case infuriates me,” said Dr. Watkins, whose father is a police officer. ”I can’t imagine anything this petite young woman could have done to deserve to have her teeth knocked out. It sounds like a case of excessive force, and the department must be held accountable.”
Dr. Watkins and Rev. Jackson will also discuss Gabby’s case on the Keep Hope Alive Radio Network on Sunday, July 28.
There is a rally and press conference scheduled for Wednesday in support of Calhoun. Details are below:
City of Refuge Church 401 East Jefferson
Pastor Andrew Bennett- Pastor.
Tentative 5:30 press conference /6:30pm service- community rally
Source: Your Black World/Photo credit: Dennis Byron
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