When I held the rally for Heather Ellis last week, the woman facing up to 15 years in prison after allegedly cutting line at a Wal-Mart, I was hoping that one day the rest of the world could see what I saw nearly two weeks ago. In spite of the prosecutor's contention that the video tape would prove his case beyond a reasonable doubt, the truth is that the video is highly inconclusive. Check it out for yourself.
You can click here to watch the video.
I find it incredibly interesting that police say that Heather refused to leave the store, when in fact, she was leaving and the officers were following her out the door. Also, given that the alleged assault can't be proven, and in the words of the prosecutor, who said, "There was no serious injury," why in the world is she facing 15 years in prison?
We await the verdict tomorrow. If justice is not served, then I plan to get on an airplane tomorrow. This kind of justice should not be acceptable to any of us.
Dr. Boyce Watkins is a professor at Syracuse University and founder of the Your Black World Coalition. To have Dr. Boyce's commentary delivered to your e-mail, please click here. 
Comments: (31)
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By: ConnieD on 11/20/2009 3:47PM
Of course there's no smoking gun because they're showing an edited tape. Show the Whole Tape!! I know there's more tape that Wal Mart is leaving out, probably because they are afraid of a lawsuit.
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By: LISA on 11/21/2009 6:30AM
COME ON, WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE THAT THIS WOMAN DID ALL THAT THEY ARE SAYING? THERE ARE CAMERA'S EVERYWHERE SO WHERE IS THE EVIDENCE? NO THEY WERE NOT EDITED. LOL. I'M NOT SAYING THESE THINGS DON'T HAPPEN BUT IN THIS COUNTRY YOU ARE INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY. AND PLEASE STOP WITH THE RACIAL REMARKS, THERE ARE BAD MANNERED PEOPLE FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, AND ALL COLORS.
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By: john on 11/20/2009 7:12AM
I am guessing Dr Watkins is a very bad/poor finance professor b/c he seems to be a racist ambulance chaser and it seems like he spends 24/7 complaining about racism instead of learning new financial issues to teach his students at Syracuse.
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By: Tim on 11/20/2009 10:23AM
Nicely said John. I agree!
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By: carlton wilson on 11/21/2009 11:04AM
Dr. Watkins should have bought his plane ticket out of the USA weeks ago as her guilt is practically a foregone conclusion, and having purchased his tickets early would have saved him money.
Ellis's version of events is an obvious lie. ALL of the other witnesses attest to her loud, profane, abusive, threatening, CRIMINAL behavior. When she is convicted, Ellis will be to blame, not that tired old chesnut...racism.
When black people wonder why no one likes them, they need look no farther than this case. It isn't the color of her/their skin that Americans object to, it is her/their overall behavior, and the fact that black people apparently believe that their ancestry somehow excuses social dysfunction and bad, dangerous public behavior.
If Ellis is acquitted, it will only happen as a result of dishonesty on the part of the two black jurors...and/or cowardice on the part of the rest of the jury.
Dr. Watkins? Bye, you won't be missed.
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By: Shaiye on 11/20/2009 8:01PM
If this woman out of probably thousands each month of those who cut in line at that walmart alone doesn't go to prison for fifteen years, then the black people chosen to be the most upstanding and honest citizens, as to sit on a jury must be liars? I suppose you also think that the other woman in line would have been wrong to calmly tell Heather that she out of line, or to calmly inform store management of the issue. I suppose you feel that she should have ripped the hair out of Heather's head herself and then acted like she had reacted calmly. The sickening part is when someone expects to be treated as though they've acted respectably when they intended to be detestable. You don't get to be treated like you were right when you were wrong just because someone else was wrong too and you want all of the blame to fall on them.
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By: YeaMe on 11/20/2009 8:03PM
"When black people wonder why no one likes them, they need look no farther than this case. It isn't the color of her/their skin that Americans object to, it is her/their overall behavior, and the fact that black people apparently believe that their ancestry somehow excuses social dysfunction and bad, dangerous public behavior."
Wow. This said from a descendant of killers, thieves, rapists and slave-drivers. A+ behavior. I swear some of you white people are a trip!
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By: Roscoe Harvey JR. on 11/20/2009 11:30PM
Considering the town of Kenton is openly active with KKK members on the police force and majority white, related to one another in this small town. Could there be a collusion and cover up of facts these "good ole boys" use to railroad this woman,by lieing on her,for a minor offense, because of her race. Whites are known historically for this miscarriage of justice against blacKS. It is whites who have trouble getting along in the world,other countries cut their heads off,beat them for violating their laws. You have never seen blacks being beheaded on T.v.! They always let the black soliders go. They want your white behind,
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By: Cookie on 11/25/2009 9:37AM
I don't know why you racists continously stereotype a single race, due to the actions of a single person. Her actions whether they were rude and disruptive have no connection to how other law-abiding, hardworking black people behave. That is like saying all white people are racist, etc. This girl's actions are not indicative to how i behave, or how my friends and family behave. What a racist and narrow-minded comment you made.
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By: carlton wilson on 11/21/2009 11:04AM
Oops....I misspelled the word "chestnut". Too many doughnuts makes me jittery:)
Thanks for viewing my post on the undeniably racist AOL's BLACK VOICES.
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