Congressman Park Cannon was forcibly escorted out of the government palace.
After Congressman Park Cannon D-Ga’s arrest, for knocking on the door while Georgia’s governor Brian Kemp signed a broad electoral bill this week, his lawyer said Cannon is “shaken but determined” to continue to fight for the right to vote in Georgia – and to clear its name.
Cannon faces charges of obstructing law enforcement and interrupting a session of the general assembly after she repeatedly knocked on Kemp’s office door while he kept a private live broadcast of the bill’s signature. The 90-page bill adds new voting requirements for Georgia residents after the results of the 2020 elections, which changed the state from traditionally red to blue.
A viral video of Cannon, who is a black woman, being forcibly escorted out of parliament by Georgia’s state police, even after identifying herself as a representative of the state, generated national outrage. She argued that the public and other members of the General Assembly should be allowed to witness the event.
“It reminds us of the 1950s and 1960s in Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina,” said Cannon’s lawyer, Greg Griggs. “But I think the governor needs to understand that we are not going to settle for George Wallace-type tactics and not respond in the same way that we respond to George Wallace. So I think the rest of the country needs to take a very strong look at the tactics being used in Georgia. The Department of Justice needs to get involved. The John Lewis Voting Rights Act needs to be passed to protect voting rights. And we need the Department of Justice to crack down on the tactics of those state officials who are trying to silence voters and people. “
Griggs said Cannon was arrested in an area that state lawmakers normally have access to and added that she did not expect to be arrested by the police.
“It has access to all parts of Casa do Povo and therefore there was no indication that the ceremony should have ended. Often when a governor signs projects that are going to turn around, it is open to the public, the press and other members of the House of Representatives and the state Senate, “said Griggs.
Griggs told ABC News that Cannon plans to return to the Georgia State Capitol on Monday to continue working. He also said that the state of Georgia should expect a “protracted legal struggle”, even if the charges are dismissed.
“She will do the work she has been elected to do in her district and in the people of Georgia. And as far as the charges are concerned, they are just allegations at this point. They must be proven beyond any reasonable doubt,” said Griggs.
“The constitution of the state of Georgia is quite clear that a properly elected representative cannot be arrested during a session. This is a violation of the constitution, unless there are three exceptions: one would be a crime, two would be a violation of peace and three would be a betrayal. We believe, based on the facts and evidence that we have discovered so far, none of these exceptions apply, “he added.
Griggs said he and Cannon’s team are in contact with the prosecutor’s office and hope that the charges will be dropped.
He also said that Kemp and Cannon have not spoken since the incident – and that Kemp has not communicated. Griggs did not say whether Cannon deserves an apology.
President Joe Biden, Stacey Abrams, Georgia Sen. Raphael Warnock and other prominent Democrats expressed support for Cannon, many sharing photos that compared her to civil rights protesters in the 1960s. When asked if that was his intention, Griggs said that is trying to “ensure that the voices of voters in its district and throughout the state of Georgia are amplified”.
Kemp defended the bill and his decision to make it into law and continued to do so on Saturday on Fox News.
“Well, I can truly look at the camera and ask my African-American friends and other African-Americans in Georgia to simply find out what’s on the bill compared to the blank statement that it’s Jim Crow or this is electoral suppression. , or this is racist – – because it is not, “said Kemp.
MaryAlice Parks contributed to this report.