Civil rights activists in Deep Ellum regarding assault case (CBS 11)
Being based here in Dallas, The Urban Advocate is no stranger to the racism and ugliness of the DFW area. Earlier this week, the rest of the country got a glimpse at just how ugly it gets in our city after a video of a Black woman being viciously punched by a White male brandishing a gun went viral. Community activists are now demanding felony charges be brought up against the attacker or Deep Ellum will take the hit.
Friday afternoon, a group of activists stood outside the barbershop where the attacker, Austin Shuffield, worked before this incident. Obviously angry over the fact that Shuffield, despite pulling out a gun during his attack, was only charged with a misdemeanor and released on $1,500 bond. AND THAT'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH!
CBS News reports:
“When Mr. Sheffield presented that gun that gave the arresting officer the evidence to charge him with aggravated assault. Instead these officers they charged him with a misdemeanor and he was able to get out on a $1,500 bond. That’s problematic,” said Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network.
Civil rights groups threatened to “shut down” Deep Ellum Saturday night unless Dallas Police and the Dallas County DA enhance the charges for this assault.
They want to know why the bartender was able to hold a gun and not be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and also claimed he used a racial slur so it should be considered a hate crime.
CBS News reports:
“When Mr. Sheffield presented that gun that gave the arresting officer the evidence to charge him with aggravated assault. Instead these officers they charged him with a misdemeanor and he was able to get out on a $1,500 bond. That’s problematic,” said Dominique Alexander of the Next Generation Action Network.
Civil rights groups threatened to “shut down” Deep Ellum Saturday night unless Dallas Police and the Dallas County DA enhance the charges for this assault.
They want to know why the bartender was able to hold a gun and not be charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and also claimed he used a racial slur so it should be considered a hate crime.
Olinka Green of NGAN says, “Don’t give him our money. Don’t give them our green money if you can’t protect our black and brown bodies.”
Listen, I'm all for shutting down Deep Ellum until this matter gets resolved. First of all, under no circumstances should we or will we allow a man (of ANY race) to viciously attack a woman and stand by idly while the man walks away with a slap on the wrist. Especially when that woman is a Black woman. If we don't stand up for our sisters, who will? Secondly, the racism and discrimination that goes on in Deep Ellum has gone unchecked for too long. While the rest of the country is watching, this would be a perfect opportunity to get these matters corrected.
We will follow this story as closely as possibly and keep you updated as information becomes more available.
Listen, I'm all for shutting down Deep Ellum until this matter gets resolved. First of all, under no circumstances should we or will we allow a man (of ANY race) to viciously attack a woman and stand by idly while the man walks away with a slap on the wrist. Especially when that woman is a Black woman. If we don't stand up for our sisters, who will? Secondly, the racism and discrimination that goes on in Deep Ellum has gone unchecked for too long. While the rest of the country is watching, this would be a perfect opportunity to get these matters corrected.
We will follow this story as closely as possibly and keep you updated as information becomes more available.
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