The five councillors elected earlier this month at Pelican Narrows will be allowed to keep their seats according to a weekend ruling from a federal court judge.
The Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation election was held on April 13 for every community except Sturgeon Landing, which had its activities postponed due to a COVID outbreak.
Head electoral officer Burke Ratte initially said the ballots for all councillors in all remaining communities would be counted after the polls closed, with ballots for chief counted after Sturgeon Landing held their vote. However, in a follow-up statement on the day of the election, Ratte said every ballot (chief, councillors and Elder’s council) would be counted after Sturgeon Landing voted. Every voting community except Pelican Narrows complied, and Ratte ordered a re-vote for that community.
For the past four weeks, a group of up to 40 protesters has gathered outside the Collin County Jail nearly every night around 9 p.m. They hang signs, draw on the sidewalk with chalk and decorate the chain link fence, celebrating the life of Marvin Scott III, who died while in the custody of jail staff in March.
Consistently, their memorials have been taken down by county staff. But that doesnât deter his sister, LaChay Batts, from returning every day with other community members outside the jail in McKinney.
âWe just do it again,â Batts, 28, told the Tribune Sunday, her voice hoarse from chanting all day. âThey want us to stop, to go away. Weâre gonna remain until the officers are arrested.â
Marvin Scott III died in Texas police custody. His family will protest until the officers involved are arrested.
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LaChay Batts leads a chant saying Marvin Scott III’s name at a March 26 demonstration outside of the Collin County Jail to demand justice for Scott, who died while in custody at the jail on March 14. Credit: Shelby Tauber for The Texas Tribune
For the past four weeks, a group of up to 40 protesters has gathered outside the Collin County Jail nearly every night around 9 p.m. They hang signs, draw on the sidewalk with chalk and decorate the chain link fence, celebrating the life of Marvin Scott III, who died while in the custody of jail staff in March.
Though seven of the sheriff’s officers have been fired after initially being put on administrative leave and another resigned while under investigation, the family and protesters say they don’t plan to stop until the officers have been charged with a crime.
Marvin Scott III died in police custody, family will protest until involved officers are arrested
Marissa Martinez and Shelby Tauber, The Texas Tribune
April 13, 2021
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A prison is pictured in this Getty stock photo. Darrin Klimek/Getty Images
For the past four weeks, a group of up to 40 protesters has gathered outside the Collin County Jail nearly every night around 9 p.m. They hang signs, draw on the sidewalk with chalk and decorate the chain link fence, celebrating the life of Marvin Scott III, who died while in the custody of jail staff in March.
Consistently, their memorials have been taken down by county staff. But that doesn’t deter his sister, LaChay Batts, from returning every day with other community members outside the jail in McKinney.