Georgia Democratic Representative Park Cannon was arrested for knocking on Georgia Governor Brian Kemp’s door because she wanted to witness him sign a new election bill into law.
Rep. Park Cannon was with a group of protestors when she knocked on the door, saying the public should be allowed to witness the announcement of the bill signing.
Two state troopers were standing guard warning her to stop knocking on the door. She continued to knock on the door and the officers put her hands behind her back, cuffed her, and dragged her out the Capitol building.
Witnesses were outraged and they questioned the officers as to why they were arresting Rep. Cannon when she was completely within her rights.
Watch the video below of the initial arrest:
Tamara Stevens was with Rep. Cannon and she said Rep. Cannon wasn’t being disrespectful or causing a disturbance.
She knew he was signing a bill that would affect all Georgians — why would he hide behind closed doors? This isn’t a monarchy.
You have a women of color fighting for the rights of Georgians and they arrested her for knocking on the door because she wanted to witness our governor sign the bill.
Watch the video below of onlookers outrage and disgust from the arrest:
State Rep. Erica Thomas, a Democrat from Mableton, said Rep. Cannon didn’t do anything illegal.
She was doing her job as an elected official. She was asking where the governor was and where the bill was being signed.
Thomas said Cannon should not have been arrested at all because the Georgia Constitution says legislators are “free from arrest during sessions of the General Assembly” except for charges of treason, felonies, or breach of the peace.
Rep. Park Cannon has been released from jail and took to Twitter with this update:
Hey everyone, thank you for your support. I’ve been released from jail. I am not the first Georgian to be arrested for fighting voter suppression. I’d love to say I’m the last, but we know that isn’t true. #SB202
But someday soon that last person will step out of jail for the last time and breathe a first breath knowing that no one will be jailed again for fighting for the right to vote. #SB202
See her tweets below:
Your thoughts…
Source: AJC
