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GoogleThe facts were these: Ellis, then a college student, was in line at the local Wal-Mart, when she decided her lane was moving too slowly. She then joined her cousin in a faster moving lane, cutting in front of a line of waiting customers. The customer she cut directly in front of, Teresa Kinder, objected, especially when Ellis repeatedly shoved Kinder's merchandise back down the conveyer belt. The assistant store manager and a security guard arrived and asked Ellis to leave. When she refused, police were called. Ellis was later placed under arrest, and charged with disturbing the peace, trespassing, resisting arrest, and felony assault of police officers.
Not surprisingly, there are two very different versions of what happened. Ellis and her aunt say she was pushed by Ms. Kinder and called racial slurs. They say police roughed her up, tore her jacket, and told her to "go back to the ghetto." Police, store management and witnesses, meanwhile, say that Ellis was belligerent, and that she kicked officer Albert Fisher in the shin and hit Sgt. Joe Stewart in the mouth, splitting his lip. Whatever the truth, it is obvious that a minor instance of rude behavior and bad manners escalated into a felony assault on a peace officer.
The mainstream media was quick to indict Kennett as a racist community. An ABC News headline read: "Heather Ellis Could Face Prison Time After Cutting the Line at Walmart." Not for assaulting police officers, mind you, but for "cutting the line." CNN's Randi Kaye went after the entire town of Kennett, accusing it of being "a community known for racial tension." CNN showed more bias when it suggestively referred to Kennett's "predominantly white police department." (In fact, Kennett has two minority cops, which accurately reflects the percentage of minorities in the town.) Groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and Southern Christian Leadership Conference noted that the town's police have been accused of racial profiling minority drivers, a charge that has been leveled, one time or another, at just about every American city and town with minorities.
Needless to say, racial tensions exploded after Ellis made her accusations. White supremacist groups began slithering into town to spread their hateful propaganda, while big name minority activists flew in from New York and Washington DC, to further heighten tensions. Ms. Ellis's father, a local Baptist preacher, called the trial a "big, racial discrimination cover-up," which seems an odd comment since trials are supposed to promote justice, not cover up the truth. (Perhaps the state judicial system is racist too?) Ellis and her various coalitions and supporters quickly hired the top criminal lawyers in St. Louis: Scott Rosenblum and T.J. Hunsaker. When asked by reporters to comment on the charge of racism, Rosenblum would say only: "I'm not going to go there."
The fact that Rosenblum and Hunsaker had to settle for a plea bargain suggests Ellis didn't have a prayer in beating the assault charge, regardless of the extenuating circumstances. In the end, Ellis was convicted of the lesser charges of resisting arrest and disturbing the peace. The plea bargain stipulates she must attend two hours of anger management class.
"MANNERS ARE OF MORE importance than laws," wrote Edmund Burke. "Upon them, in a great measure, the laws depend." But good manners are today considered passé, a quaint and spurious remnant of our dark past. So many of today's young people simply do not care how their rude or anti-social behavior affects others. It is almost like no one else exists but himself or herself. I experience this form of anti-social behavior on a daily basis, whether it is the young hoodlums in the street outside my window playing loud and obscene music at 3 a.m. or young people talking loudly and obscenely on their cell phones during a movie. And you can see where they get it. I have attended theater productions where adults bring their toddlers and allow them to chat endlessly throughout the performance, no doubt finding this behavior "cute."
If our young are not taught good manners, they are well-schooled in resentment studies, during which they learn the various benefits of victimhood and the importance of political correctness. Good manners will never get anyone 15 minutes of fame, but bad manners and crying racism is almost guaranteed to buy you fifteen minutes and then some.
The tragedy is that by rushing to Ellis's defense, by excusing her actions, and by concocting blanket racism charges against an entire community, the "various coalitions" and civil rights groups have done great damage to the laudable goal of combating racial prejudice.
Perhaps now that the rock star has returned home to Louisiana, the Ellis-and-mainstream-media-created racial tensions will cool and Kennett, Missouri, can get back to being what it was: a normal southern town trying to deal with serious economic problems.
Christopher Orlet is a freelance writer based in Columbia, Illinois.
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. If you feel that a comment is offensive, please
Excellent article. You see this when people use all sorts of filthy language in public. There have always been people that used the "F" word and other similar forms of profanity and vulgarity, but it was done in the lockerroom or away from others. Now, you hear it as part of everyday talk at WalMart, sitting in front of them at ballgames, walking down the sidewalks...it doesn't matter...they have no concern for other people.
When and why did it change? I am not smart enough to figure it out...but it is a cultural thing.....and not for the better. Just like cutting in line at Wal Mart....no manners or respect for others.
Christopher Orlet needs to get the facts of the case, read the transcript, of sort, in the various papers and you can clearly see what Kinder, the Walmart checker, Walmart manager, Walmart security, etc., did to Heather Ellis. I can't wait Walmart, Kinder, all the employees, and the police officers are sued. All of the Walmart employees should lose their jobs immediately.
Orlet you are a disgrace for perpetuating this lie. The guilty people are Kinder and the Walmart employees and the Police.
No, I'm not black, I'm white, 58 years old, live in Washington State, and was duped just like the whole United States into believing Heather Ellis cut in line, but in fact that isn't what happened. The Walmart checker is so at fault it is a disgrace. I don't know how she can sleep at night, other than she never thought her actions would come back to bite her in the butt.
The trial didn't prove Heather's story to be true. Just because you join somebody in line you know doesn't mean it's not cutting. She was not in that line, waiting, like everybody else. When somebody she knew (or was with) happened to get to a register before her, she changed lines. That is cutting. Yes, the lady she cut in front of may have cut in front of Heather's cousin. But this was because he didn't have anything!! (Now, Heather says her cousin had 3 lunchables and $2. Nowhere on the video did you see his stuff on the conveyor belt. I don't believe he had anything at all. The only stuff you see if what Heather had.)
Now, put yourself in the shoes of the checker. You move the conveyor belt towards the register and check out the next person who had items to purchase. She did her job. She began checking out the next person in line who had items to purchase. Heather didn't get there in time and lost her place in the other line as well. Cutting is cutting. Heather has been an embarrassment to the Kennett community. She attempted to trash the reputation of Kennett in order to get away with her childish behavior.
Mr. Orlet:
Thank you for this article. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Mr. Orlet:
Thank you for this article. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
darcy stay in Washington State
Heather Ellis' kindergarten teachers failed her by not teaching her the basics of standing in line. Her parents failed her by not teaching her simply in order to get respect, you have to show respect, her attorneys failed her because they forget to tell her not to lie and her media, and minority activists failed her by supporting her lies. Ms Ellis should be banned from Wal Mart, Kennett, and Dunklin County. Rev Ellis should be sent back to preacher school and learn the 10 commandments again, her mother should be required to take parenting classes and Ms Ellis should NEVER be allowed to work with impressionalable kids again
Amen, Amen. Common courtsey and respect is the story here. If you dont use it you might find yourself in a heated argument for being disrespectful.Hopefully we all learned a lesson here. You cant use the race card when you act like a child. That was hitting a low point when she use this as a defense.She should of had more pride than to use that excuse for her behaivor. Sad thing is I dont think she gets picture.
What especially galls me right now is the fact that Ellis is making TV rounds and proclaiming her innocence. As an attorney, I realize her actions (in proclaiming innocence) are a direct violation of the plea agreement she entered into with the State of Missouri. The terms of the agreement required that she admit the elements of the crime she committed, and make no mistake, she definitely committed one. I would think that the sentencing judge should be advised that Ms. Ellis is currently actively rejecting the plea aggreement and naysaying her criminal liability. If the judge is serious about this case, Ms. Ellis will be then hauled back before the court to allow her to withdraw her plea and justice can then be administered accordingly.
Here is the point everyone is missing: Kennett looked like a bad place on CNN, because we were unable to highlight the good.
Let me explain. Imagine being a report from CNN, coming into a small town and as you drive in from the east you pass neon lights of fast food restaurant and Wal-Mart. You finally get the town agora (i.e. town square) where half of the buildings are vacant and in major disrepair. You are probably thinking "how depressing... what kind of backwoods bumpkins would even want to live here?"
Now in the majority of communities you visit for your reports you are greeted by the city's PR representative (not just a local, but a trained PR rep who has had experience representing communities) to explain the culture of the town to talk about how the town strives to include all member of the community and is committed to progress. However on this assignment, Kennett has no PR firm or rep to fill you in. So all you have to go on are the rumors of poor race relations and a downtrodden cityscape. You, as a skilled journalist, think "the country will just love to hate this Podunk place!" And guess what it did.
So city leaders and citizens of Kennett, take this to heart you have no reason to be upset with CNN or FoxNews the reported what appeared to be there.
In today's super-competitive business market, city's and town's all over the use are starting conduct consumer research and promote themselves like consumer brands. After all the opportunities a city can provide to its residents is it greatest value. And let's face it what opportunities toward progress has Kennett provided lately.
So Kennett, Here is your plan:
1) Hire a good PR firm
2) Market research will be key setup focus groups of diverse Kennett residents and business leaders and conduct a vistors survey to find out what opportunities your "target market" wants.
3)Start programs to improve existing businesses and encourage new businesses (Cities like Cape Girardeau and Jonesboro are already good at doing this. Give them a call they would love to talk to you)
4) Clean up you downtown and the St.Francis/1st Street strip.
5) Hire a good marketing firm that is skilled in developing branding for cities.
6) Work with the Innovation Center at SEMO on continuing to attract and retain business and it is free!
Please take responsibility for your community and make it a better place!
Heather who? I've already forgotten about this liar!
So True Mr. Orlet and For Progress Sake , I agree.
I was raised around Kennett. I returned for a short visit there a couple of weeks ago and it seems Kennett is drying up folks. You see all these big fancy new homes on each by-pass and then you see St. Fransis St and the downtown area going to the dogs. come on fancy homeowners let go of your money and get some industry in the area that helped you build your nice house. Someone needs to save Kennett.
CHRIS ORBIT...WHO TOLD YOU WHAT TO SAY IN THIS ARTICLE? LOL
CHRIS ORLET...OOPS
Darcy47, I guess you weren't in the Wal-Mart parking lot when that foul mouthed preachers daughter assulted those officers huh? Oh of course you weren't you live in Washington State. You are the second person, I have talked to that does not live in Kennett and took everything that CNN said as the truth and nothing but the truth so help you, which ever god you chose or prophet.. I was born here, but raised in Rockford Il we moved back here 23 yrs ago and I can tell you Sir/Ma'am their is more racist in Rockford Il then there is here in Kennett.. So before you try and cleanup the back porch of Kennett Mo you need to cleanup your own. Oh yeah Kennett could use an over haul, not just of it's streets and buildings but the justice system really needs to be cleaned up. First Probation violation = 10 months in prison. Assulting two Officers of the law two class C felonies = one year unsupervised probation, 4 days jail shock treatment. Now thats JUSTICE
Stormey
Christopher Orlet needs to get the facts of the case, read the transcript, of sort, in the various papers and you can clearly see what Kinder, the Walmart checker, Walmart manager, Walmart security, etc., did to Heather Ellis. I can't wait Walmart, Kinder, all the employees, and the police officers are sued. All of the Walmart employees should lose their jobs immediately.
Orlet you are a disgrace for perpetuating this lie. The guilty people are Kinder and the Walmart employees and the Police.
No, I'm not black, I'm white, 58 years old, live in Washington State, and was duped just like the whole United States into believing Heather Ellis cut in line, but in fact that isn't what happened. The Walmart checker is so at fault it is a disgrace. I don't know how she can sleep at night, other than she never thought her actions would come back to bite her in the butt.
-- Posted by darcy47 on Tue, Nov 24, 2009, at 5:16 PM
thank you for the article all that needed to be said thank you thank you
Word on the street is that Darcy47 just cashed in the last brain cell he/she had defending a dead subject. Ellis is guilty as charged. The media are guilty of the same thing they are every day and that is, jumping on anything controversial and riding it till the horse is dead. I suggest you clean up your own state Darcy47, somebody just killed 4 innocent police officers today IN A COFFEE SHOP. For all I know you had something to do with that!
Kennett has nothing to be ashamed of and everything to believe in. What everyone involved in this fiasco did what was RIGHT. This country and the hard working, common people, who try to do the right thing, need to stand up and stop the onslaught of obnoxious, rude, threatening blacks just like the spoiled, so-called "educated" one here. Anyone who can't pronounce "asked" on national radio and TV, and repeatedly says "aksed" is not educated. I can tell you that if she had done what she did in that Walmart line to my wife, her story could have been told from her hospital room. I have made myself a promise to not turn a blind eye or ear to this kind of nonsense. One example is the increasingly rudeness of black boys who have no respect for children or women in public places and use vulgarity and profanity in front of them. It is addressed if it is around my family. Anyone who condones the behavior of Heather Ellis or similar actions, is just as guilty or ignorant as she is.