WMC-TV: News, Weather, Traffic, Radar, and Sports for Memphis, TN; WMCTV.com | Supporters, protesters march in Kennett after racial dispute
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By Tyler Profilet - bio | email
KENNETT, MO (KFVS) - Supporters of a woman on trial for what she calls a racially charged dispute at the Kennett Wal-Mart marched in her support Monday.
Heather Ellis' trial begins Wednesday, nearly three years after an altercation at the Kennett Wal-Mart got her into legal trouble.
On Monday morning, more than 100 people marched from the Wal-Mart to the Dunklin County Courthouse in support of Ellis.
Nearly three years after Ellis switched checkout lines at a Missouri store and touched off what she calls a racially charged dispute, the young black schoolteacher faces a trial that could get her 15 years in prison.
Heather Ellis is charged with assaulting police and resisting arrest.
Her supporters say she's a victim of racism.
Witnesses say Ellis cut in front of waiting customers, shoved merchandise on a conveyor belt out of her way and became belligerent when confronted, according to court filings.
Ellis maintains she was merely joining her cousin in a faster line. She says she was pushed by a white customer, hassled by store employees, called racial slurs and physically mistreated by police officers.
Police say she kicked one officer and split another's lip. Her trial for assault, resisting arrest and disturbing the peace begins Wednesday.
Some counter protestors held Confederate flags with skulls and crossbones and swastikas.
The protestors chanted, "No justice, no peace," as they walked down First Street.
Representatives from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and National Association for the Advancement of Colored People from as far away as Kansas City came for the rally.
"We want to make it very clear, racism and bigotry is thick in this city," said supporter Dr. Dwight Montgomery.
"There are other African American people and people who are underprivileged that are being mistreated by the penal system," said Ellis' father, Nathaniel.
The story received national attention after a Kennett police officer warned Ellis' family that the KKK and other groups were threatening Ellis' family.
The intense pressure led to Dunklin County Prosecutor Stephen Sokoloff to pull himself from the case. He says the claims he's a racist are outrageous.
"Somebody who believes something like that, they're going to believe it regardless of what the facts are," Sokoloff said. "I think if you talk to people who know me and you look at my record, you'll see that's not correct."
Sokoloff says he doesn't expect the charges to be dropped.
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