NAACP sponsors weekend 'peace rally' at Courthouse Square

The peace rally/march was organized by Luetta Pulliam-Wright of Kennett, and was scheduled to begin at the Victory Temple Church of God in Christ located at 921 North Main Street, where it would then proceed to Commercial Street, then on to College Avenue, before coming to a stop at the Courthouse Square.

According to statements made by Pulliam-Wright prior to the event, the rally was intended to serve all citizens of Dunklin County and the surrounding area, highlighting the importance of civil rights and protesting alleged police brutality and injustice regarding a local case filed January 7, 2007.

A probable cause affidavit filed in January by an officer with the Kennett Police Department claims that on January 6, 2007 authorities responded to a call from store management and a security officer at the local Wal-mart store.

The call, according to the court document, was in reference to an incident involving a woman, later identified as Heather R. Ellis, whom Wal-mart officials say they asked to leave the store after she became belligerent, angry, and hostile, cursing in an aggressive manner toward store employees.

The affidavit also indicates that after police arrived on the scene, Ellis continued to act in the same manner, refusing to leave the premises, and later directed her anger toward the officers responding to the call, even threatening assault if they tried to force her to leave.

Numerous requests were made by police for Ellis to leave the store on her own free will, according to the court document. However, the responding officers testified in a written account of the incident that Ellis continued to be combative, refusing to comply with the requests for her to leave peacefully.

One of the responding officers reported that he asked Ellis once more to leave peacefully, explaining that if she did not, he would be forced to place her under arrest. According to that officer, Ellis refused again, and threatened physical harm to him if he tried to arrest her.

"Heather Ellis was given every opportunity to comply with the officers repeated requests for her to simply leave the property of the business of Wal-mart," the officer wrote in his statement.

The officer explained in the affidavit that once it became "abundantly clear" that the subject had "no intention of cooperating" with police, she was informed that she was being placed under arrest. At this time, the officer struggled to place handcuffs on Ellis because she became even more combative, according to police.

The affidavit indicates that Ellis' refusal to comply with the arrest resulted in two additional officers coming to the arresting officer's aid. Ellis was described by these officers to be swinging, fighting, and kicking throughout the incident, while the three officers attempted to place her in handcuffs.

According to the court document, during the incident, Ellis reportedly kicked one of the officers, prior to striking a second arresting officer in the mouth. Once subdued, Ellis was transported to the Dunklin County Jail where she was processed, booked, and incarcerated.

Supporters of Ellis were in strong force during the rally on Saturday, calling her a victim, and accusing local authorities of misconduct, character assassination, falsifying public records, blatant threats and perceived buy-offs.

According to family members of Ellis, the accusations made by the arresting officers and those representing Wal-mart are inaccurate and completely false. During the rally, this position was made evident, as speakers and protesters rallied in Ellis' favor, and held up signs that read: 'Free Heather Ellis!'

Ellis, is not currently incarcerated on the charges she faces, but is expected in court for a jury trial set to begin on June 29.

According to Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen P. Sokoloff, Ellis is currently charged with peace disturbance, in addition to resisting arrest and two counts of assault on a law enforcement officer in the second degree.

Although Saturday's rally was expected to begin at 9 a.m., with marchers arriving at the Courthouse Square shortly after, protesters were not present until after noon.

According to organizers, there was a short delay and change of plans, which also included the elimination of original plans to continue the march from Kennett's Downtown District, through First Street to the area in front of Wal-mart.

Local authorities revealed that prior to the event beginning, officers setting up for the rally discovered approximately 100 Ku Klux Klan cards scattered throughout the planned route, including areas down College Avenue.

Major Steve Williams said his department worked diligently to insure that all of the derogatory items were removed from the scene and also contact the coordinator of the event to make the group aware of the situation.

Police also told the Daily Dunklin Democrat that it increased its security measures during the rally, to provide additional precautionary protection for the approximate 50 protesters and witnesses in attendance.

Williams said the event went on without further incident and the department is investigating the incident regarding the cards that were found before the rally which ended by 4 p.m.