Civil Rights Attorney Arrested In McKinney Throughout Protest

On Sunday, March 26, McKinney PD arrested effectively-known civil rights lawyer Lee Merritt through a protest in memory of Marvin Scott III, a black person who died in custody at the Collin County jail in 2021.

Alongside with Merritt, McKinney police arrested two other individuals for obstructing U.S. Highway 380: photojournalist Shelby Tauber and Scott’s sister Lachay Batts. In addition to the illegal protest costs, Merritt was charged with unlawfully carrying a weapon.

Merritt is a renowned civil legal rights attorney who represented people of Black People killed by law enforcement which includes the family members of Atatiana Jefferson, Botham Jean, Jordan Edwards and Marvin Scott III. 

Scott, who was 26 yrs previous at the time of his loss of life, was a Black person identified with schizophrenia who was arrested in 2021 for possessing a modest sum of marijuana — a misdemeanor. 

When in custody, Collin County jail cameras confirmed jailers restraining Scott, employing pepper spray and covering his head with a hood. That night Scott became unresponsive and was afterwards pronounced useless at the medical center. Scott’s dying was dominated a homicide by the Collin County health-related examiner’s workplace and several protests adopted the function. 

According to Merritt, Scott was suffering from a psychological health disaster and that in previous encounters with law enforcement, he had been taken to facilities to get treatment method alternatively of remaining arrested. 

Merritt promoted Sunday’s demonstration on his social media and encouraged people today to display up for a “March for Mental Health” in Scott’s honor. 

In accordance to a press release from McKinney PD, officers were being dispatched to a report of all around 20 individuals blocking 380. When they arrived, officers gave protestors 10 minutes of warning right before arresting Merritt, Tauber and Batts for failing to adhere to orders to leave the roadway. 

Right after becoming released on Monday, March 27, Merritt held a temporary press conference where by he stated he was not blocking the street and was existing at the demonstration as a lawful observer, going for walks together the sidewalk. Merritt added that the only time he entered the road was below the authorization of a single of the McKinney PD officers to alert protesters that the arrest would be created at which time officers proceeded with the arrest.  

Merritt argued that the arrest is in violation of the Sixth Amendment that presents the ideal to counsel which was getting criminalized with his detention on Sunday afternoon. 

In a article on his Instagram account, Merrit stated he will obstacle every single false cost in a court of legislation. 

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