Amnesty granted to arrested protesters

Thursday’s debate on the proposal to drop municipal charges against nonviolent protesters became lengthy as the City Council of Kansas City continued discussion following a hearing in front of the city’s Special Committee for Legal Review last week.

The approved proposal releases protesters arrested by police between May 29 and June 2, according to a report by KMBC. The proposal for amnesty only covers the days of the largest protests and protesters only in Downtown, Westport and the Country Club Plaza area, the report continued. City council voted 9-2 in favor of dropping charges.

According to the Kansas City Police Department, officers arrested more than 200 people over the five days of protests and said most of the charges were for violating city rules in place on complying with a public safety officer or resisting a public safety officer.

City Councilman Brandon Ellington sponsored the proposal and said during Thursday’s meeting that dropping city charges does not block potential, more serious, state charges someone might face, according to KMBC.

Those opposing the approved plan include the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police and several spouses of police officers that spoke at the committee meeting last week, said KMBC’s report.

“When laws can be changed on a whim, based on your mood at the moment, there is no reason to follow laws at any time. We result in chaos,” said the spouse of a Kansas City police officer.

Two councilwomen also opposed include Heather Hall, a 1st District councilwoman, and Teresa Loar, a 2nd District At-Large councilwoman. Hall and Loar were the only two to vote against the proposal, while 2nd District Councilman Dan Fowler and 4th District At-Large Councilwoman Katheryn Shields did not vote, according to reporting by KSHB.