OPINION: Heather Ellis Finally Tells Her Story & Why I Believe Her
Heather Ellis is the woman who once faced up to 15-years in prison in an incident stemming from being accused of cutting the line at Wal-Mart. We fought for Heather for weeks, but I’d never had a chance to actually speak with her. Finally, she called me and we had the chance to talk. It was a two hour conversation and she agreed to do an interview with me to let her side of the story get out to the world.
I can tell you, from my personal perspective, that the evidence in this case adds up badly for the police. I am hopeful that our call for a federal investigation into the Kennett, MO police department is successful, and the ACLU is already pursuing charges of its own. The officers who almost stole Heather’s freedom should not be allowed to abuse the civil rights of other American citizens.
Additionally, it was proven in court that the woman who accused Heather of cutting in line had actually pushed her first. That changes the whole perspective on the disturbing the peace charge that was filed against her. You can also hear in the interview about the cop who followed her out of the store, calling her disrespectful names and eventually tackling her when she asked him to stop. This officer had been fired from a prior job for sexual harassment, so it is not out of the question that he said these things to Heather.
I encourage you to listen to the interview by clicking here. It will give you the inside scoop on what was happening as the nation watched this case.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a Professor at Syracuse University and the founder of the Your Black World Coalition. For more information, please visit www.BoyceWatkins.com.
Dr. Conrad Murray CHARGED
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While I’m certainly glad to see Ms Ellis is free, unfortunately, I can only wonder when the “next time” occurs. The dread of the other she falling must still be flitting through Ms Ellis’ head at this juncture, as well. I do appreciate you bringing this interview to us, it was quite enlightening in an unsatifactory way. I personally detest crap like this. I’ve retaliated on my own in defense of brothers and sisters I went to college with, when I could no longer deal with their refusal to even acknowledge “little events” (read with extreme sarcasm here) like what happened to Ms Ellis. But being among them as much as I was, I received a great–if unorthadox education for a white boy from the backwoods of NH. Over time I learned a smarter way to fight and take care of those I meant most to me, my friends, whatever walk of life they came from. Now I’ve been married to a beautiful sister for some 30 years, who has two exceptional qualities among many: 1) she’s a lawyer and 2) she’s an ordained minister. Someone to keep me on the straight and narrow, and keep me out of trouble when I fight my little battles. You see, I never stopped fighting, I just got smarter about it. As the people who assisted Ms Ellis also did, far more quickly than I. Bless you, Dr Watkins.
I will say this much,at some point in our live’s we’ve all got to wait on/for something…if not but a “RED LIGHT”,it’s a waiting game.So she could’ve avoided a big mess in the first place!
@Trisha_369,
Not a problem, although I didnt mention it was because of her race some of us already know it was due to that and well the others can stay in denial. As much as we do not want to make it about race it is in most cases.
soveu34-if you thought I was calling you a FOOL I wasn’t…I was saying that if ANYONE else thought that her race didn’t play apart in her charge was a FOOL not you. I did INFACT AGREE with you. I just know thats NOT how we train our cashier to act-if its a problem they either come get me or someone over them. And yes we have people of all race come in and they be trippin hard and I sit them straight-the right way. I still feel you!
@Trisha_369,
Fool i’m not but we already know its a given fact when a black person acts up in the general public the police will be called upon quicker than you can spit a lugie
Having worked in retail for 14 years as a part time job I seen some sob’s who should have had the store security/police called on them but instead they are just waved
away, cussing, yelling, and trying to intimidate others and these were non black individuals.
She did admit to moving the other customers items so there was no reason for her to admit to cutting in line because she wasnt being charged for that incident she was being overly charged for what took place after the confrontation
We can all disagree or agree that her behavior is what got her in this situation I’m sure it escalated after she was being taunted by the store customers and employees and she felt like sh it and acted out although not in her best interest seeing that she was out numbered
But, I bet you if that had been the other way around a non black in that position and the black customer who pushed her would have been cited period end of story or in this case given 5 years for physical contact, evading ones space and any other chumped up charges they could find.
those are the main reason nobody take us seriously wenn it come to a serioux claim
i dont think 15 years is right but she should never get away with her stupid behavior
She gets and deserves no support. Decorum and civility is not based on race, and it seems she is playing the race card because it is convenient.
Was she just as indignant when she treated the other customer in line the way she feels she is being treated now?
She should get over herself.
soveu34 I agree with you to a point. I WOULD NOT PLEA TO NO CHARGE IF I KNOW FOR A FACTS I DIDN’T DO. And I WOULD NOT LET THEM GET AWAY WITH GIVING me 15yrs ON a CHARGE that SHOULD have BEEN a FINE. I agree with you on what your saying the CRIME DIDN’T FIT 15yrs in PRISON. HOWEVER IF SHE PLEA TO ONLY CUTTING INLINE-THEN I WOULD UNDERSTAND HER PLEA. BECAUSE THATS WHAT THIS MATTER WAS ABOUT. AND ANYONE CAN SEE AND HEAR CAN SAY-YES HER RACE HAD ALOT TO DO WITH IT AND YOUR A FOOL IF YOU THINK OTHERWISE. Say WHAT you WANT about my COMMENT but the TRUTH is IN the STORY itself…
1)HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW GET THE POLICE CALLED ON THEM FROM CUTTING INLINE? (FIRST TIME EVER AND TO MAKE THE NEWS)
2)HOW MANY PEOPLE YOU KNOW-GET BEAT BY THE POLICE (8 OUT OF 10 BLACKS)AND COME IN GROUPS OF COPS FOR (1 BLACK)WOMAN?
3)HOW MANY BLACK PEOPLE GET OVER CHARGED ON A CRIME THAT DON’T FIT WHAT THEY DONE…THAT-IF A WHITE PERSON DONE THE SAME CRIME WOULD GET A LESS CHARGE?(BLACKS)
4)HOW MANY BLACK FACES YOU SEE ALL IN THE MEDIA,NET,NEWS,TALK SHOW ETC FOR ANY TYPE OF CRIME AND ITS RUN IN THE GROUND AND WHEN IT COME TO WHITE PEOPLE CRIMES YOU MIGHT GET TO SEE THERE FACE AND HEAR IT SPOKE OF ON THE 11 O’CLOCK NEWS?
5)HOW MANY BLACKS DIED,WENT TO PRISON,STILL IN PRISON ON CHARGES/CRIMES THEY DIDN’T DO?
AND WHATS EVEN WORST IS THEY DON’T GET THEY LIFE BACK AND THEY RECORD CLEARED. SOME IS JUST FREE AND GET PAID…ITS SAD BUT,TRUE. DR. BOYCE IS RIGHT AND THEY NEED MORE OF PEOPLE LIKE HIM TO ADDRESS ISSUES LIKE THIS ALL OVER AMERICAN. (JUST MY OWN PERSONAL OPINION)
Doc,
Pull your head out of your ass. There’s no excuse for her cutting in line. None of this would of happened if she would have stayed in her own line. Why is that so hard to understand? She made a mistake and is trying to use the race card to excuse her inexcusable behavior. Your inability to address this fact makes you sound like pea-brained republican. The woman accused Heather of cutting in line because the b***h cut in line!!!!
“Doctor,” you are nothing more than a gullible, race-baiting baffoon.
Plea Bargin I’d take it too compared to 15 years on chumped up charges or 2 years probation
She felt she was innocent so why should she plead to charges she was not guilty of know your legal rights
We can all agree that her behavior is what brought her to this event but her non criminal history does not justify her being sent to
prison for 15 years. She did not assault the b itch customer in line who admitted to pushing her in fact that b itch wasnt even cited for pushing ellis
Maybe they should have consider giving her 10 yrs for pushing mrs ellis but i bet instead she got an high five.
The main point is its was all about unequal justice and I guess some of us have overcome so much that we forgot that justice is not served equally to
blacks. So wake up and look at the whole picture people, in a perfect world there would be no one committing crimes but unfortunately this is reality
None of this would have happened, if she had not jumped in front of someone. And if you listen to the interview, Heather tries to cover that fact up with double talk. You cannot be in two lines at the same time.
WHY TAKE A PLEA DEAL?