They Marched for Racial Justice in Shelby Township: "Shelby Five" face felonies; more charged with misdemeanors
Five racial justice activists are being targeted with felony prosecutions after being arrested at a non-violent march on Oct 24, 2020 in Shelby Township.
Additionally, Shelby Township charged eleven other racial justice activists from Oct 24, 2020 with misdemeanors, most of whom were not arrested at the protest, but were targeted with warrants three months later.
Featured photo with this post was taken by Abayomi Azikiwe on October 24, 2020.
Background: On October 24, 2020 over 100 protesters gathered to demand the firing of Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide for violently racist comments he posted on his personal social media, saying Black Lives Matter protesters are “vicious subhumans” who deserved to be in “body bags”. Also, Shelby Township PD recently failed to investigate a police murder of an unarmed Sikh man in 2018. Detroit Will Breathe and other groups joined Shelby Township-based social justice organization, SHIFT (Suburban Solidarity for Social Justice), in a march to call for Shelide’s removal. The Shelby Township police responded to the march with violence and arrests.
Above photos by Anna van Schaap
Felony court for the “Shelby 5”:
11/8/2021 at 11:00am, in-person evidentiary hearings will be held for two of the Shelby 5, regarding the felony and misdemeanor charges brought against them in District Court.
11/8/2021 at 1:30pm, one of the Shelby 5 has arraignment in Circuit Court.
11/15/2021 at 1:30pm, one of the Shelby 5 has arraignment in Circuit Court.
11/22/2021 at 1:30pm, one of the Shelby 5 has arraignment
Misdemeanor court 12/7/2021, 11am: The other Shelby protesters for racial justice, who are facing misdemeanor charges (no felonies), will have hearings on their motions to dismiss. The attorney teams who represent all of the protesters being charged with misdemeanors have filed motions to dismiss based on First Amendment and other constitutional challenges. Additionally, they are seeking discovery that will show clearly that while Shelby Twp police created a huge, unnecessary, and violent force when protesters were marching in defense of Black lives, the Shelby Twp police treated Trump rallies with little to no response. (Maybe they participated!)
Civil Infraction court 12/7/2021, 8:30am: At least two of the Shelby Township protester car support drivers have court hearings about the tickets they received while protecting marching racial justice protesters on Oct 24, 2020.
flier for the Oct 24, 2020 march against racism & police brutality