KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Thursday afternoon the full Kansas City, Missouri, city council will debate whether to drop municipal charges against nonviolent protesters the police arrested between May 29, 2020, and June 2, 2020.
Protests against police brutality and systemic racism have taken place in Kansas City and most of the country since last month's death of George Floyd while in the custody of Minneapolis police officers.
After a public hearing in front of the city’s Special Committee for Legal Review last week, committee members voted to send the proposal to the entire city council for a vote.
A Kansas City Police Department spokesperson said officers arrested more than 150 people during that time frame. Most of the municipal charges are for violating city rules in place on complying with a public safety officer or resisting a public safety officer.
Councilman Brandon Ellington sponsored the proposal.
Kansas City-based attorney Stacy Shaw is among the 150 people facing charges. She said police arrested her near The Plaza during the first week of protests.
“To be honest with you, I cried every day for the first three days after it happened because I just felt so violated and I was just so horrified,” Shaw explained.
She now represents 50 people in the same position as her. She launched an online petition asking the city dismiss the charges and follow seven other demands. The petition has more than 8,000 signatures.
“We want to make sure that everyone is able to fully embrace everything that it means to be an American. And part of being an American is protesting,” Shaw explained.
On the flip side, the Fraternal Order of Police, a union representing police officers, has made clear it does not support the proposal.
The wife of a police officer spoke to the Special Committee for Legal Review saying it should be up to a judge to decide whether to drop charges, not the city council.
“This sets a dangerous precedent. It takes away consequences for actions. Without consequences, we have lawlessness. When we have lawlessness, we will have chaos. We cannot function safely in a city of chaos,” the woman said.
A municipal violation is in a separate category than a misdemeanor or felony. But is carries consequences. Shaw said the maximum penalty for violating a municipal ordinance is six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. Plus, the conviction would remain on your record and show up on background checks unless you get it expunged, which Shaw said is a lengthy process.
The city council meets at 3 p.m. Thursday on the 26th floor of City Hall at 414 East 12th Street.
Other cities, like Manhattan and Los Angeles, have dropped similar municipal charges against protesters.
