Credit Andrew Jameson / bit.ly/1xMszCg
This summer, people in Chelsea joined those around the state and the country to protest against racism and police brutality, following the death of George Floyd at the hands of the Minneapolis Police Department. Some of those protestors were issued tickets by the Chelsea Police for impeding traffic.
Today, a District Court judge dismissed those tickets, saying they were issued under an unconstitutional statute. This comes after a unanimous decision by Chelsea City Council last week to recommend that Chelsea Police Chief Ed Toth dismiss the tickets.
During last week s city council meeting, city attorney Peter Flintoft mentioned that courts might have to get involved if a fine had already been paid.
Citing First Amendment, judge dismisses charges against antiracist protesters in Chelsea
Updated Feb 22, 2021;
Posted Feb 22, 2021
A Chelsea police SUV drives alongside as protesters march down South Main Street in Chelsea on Friday, July 31 2020. The march and police department sit-in was organized by Anti-Racist Chelsea Youth.Jacob Hamilton/MLive.com
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CHELSEA, MI Impeding traffic charges have been dismissed against several of the protestors who participated in demonstrations last summer in the city of Chelsea.
Washtenaw County 14A-3 District Court Judge Anna Frushour declined to charge members of an antiracist activist group on impeding traffic violations, ruling that punishing the individuals would be in violation of the First Amendment of the United Sates Constitution.
Chelsea police chief won t drop charges against protesters, legal battle continues Omar Abdel-Baqui, Detroit Free Press Protesters demonstrated in front of the Chelsea Police Department Friday, confronting Chief Edward Toth after he said the department will not dismiss charges against people who protested in the streets over the summer in a case that has divided the small town and has led to a constitutional court battle.
Toth said Friday that it is not within the Police Department’s authority to drop civil charges after they have been submitted to the court and that it is up to a judge to rule on the charges, which is scheduled to occur Monday. This follows a City Council meeting earlier this week in which the body voted unanimously to recommend that police drop pending charges against protesters for impeding traffic.
Protesters demonstrated in front of the Chelsea Police Department Friday, confronting Chief Edward Toth after he said the department will not dismiss charges against people who protested in the streets over the summer in a case that has divided the small town and has led to a constitutional court battle.
Toth said Friday that it is not within the Police Department’s authority to drop civil charges after they have been submitted to the court and that it is up to a judge to rule on the charges, which is scheduled to occur Monday. This follows a City Council meeting earlier this week in which the body voted unanimously to recommend that police drop pending charges against protesters for impeding traffic.
Credit Andrew Jameson / bit.ly/1xMszCg
The summer of 2020 was marked by protests for racial justice following the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers.
Residents of Chelsea, a small town of around 5,000 people, 95% of whom are white, made their voices heard with marches and protests of their own. The Chelsea Police Department issued at least 18 tickets to those protesters for blocking the road.
Last night, Chelsea City Council recommended that Police Chief Ed Toth drop the charges against the protestors.
The majority of Chelsea residents who spoke during the public comment portion were in favor of dropping the charges. Among those who spoke were parents of kids involved in Anti-Racist Chelsea Youth, or ARCY. Many of those members organized the protests and speeches, and were subsequently issued tickets.