dawnlyen Working with @weinspirejustice on this campaign to #FreeMasonique — a little known but important case happening now in Columbus, Ohio. Info👇🏽urgent action needed: ****** In December, Columbus Police killed 16-year-old Julius Tate Jr, shooting him five times. Six days later, Columbus Police charged Julius’ girlfriend, Masonique Saunders, with aggravated robbery and a controversial charge known as felony murder. It’s controversial because of an Ohio statute which says that if a police officer kills someone suspected of committing a felony, anyone “proximate” to that death can be charged with the murder. This charge is rarely used & has actually been abolished in several states, and the concern in this case goes beyond its constitutionality. Witnesses (including Masonique) are saying that her boyfriend Julius was unarmed and that the police went inside the house to get a gun that they are now saying he was armed with. Masonique was planning to testify to this and was arrested 6 days after the killing — one day after Julius Tate’s family threatened a lawsuit against the Columbus Police for unlawful death. Since December, Masonique has been imprisoned in the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Center without bail, mourning the death of her boyfriend without the support of counseling, family, or friends. And because Masonique was only 16 when Julius was killed, pinning his death on her means that prosecutor Ron O’Brien is attempting to prosecute her in adult court. On May 9th, Masonique has a hearing to determine whether she should be tried as an adult. Before then, we are asking you to stand in support of Masonique! Children don’t belong in adult court, and Officer Eric Richards should be held responsible for the murder he committed. In solidarity with the Coalition to #FreeMasonique: -Sign the petition to in my story -Write a post in support of Masonique, tagging @freemasonique and @columbus_police_ -Donate to Masonique’s legal fees at https://www.gofundme.com/free-masonique-legal-fees and get involved with the National Week of Action at freemasonique.home.blog -Call Prosecutor Ron O’Brien 614-525-3555 & demand Masonique’s release.
