DeAndre Harris, a young Black man, 20 years old, was brutally beaten by six white supremacists during the Charlottesville attacks in August. He is now being charged with felony charges of "unlawful wounding" by an accuser who Charlottesville police have yet to identify. The accuser, who is believed to be a member of a white supremacist group, is using this charge as a form of retaliation against DeAndre Harris.

Any violence that occurred in Charlottesville was incited by white supremacist hate; they came to Charlottesville looking for a fight. DeAndre Harris and Heather Heyer, who was killed when white supremacists attacked counter-protestors with their car, suffered the most brutal and violent displays of their hate.

The white supremacist rally held in Charlottesville, in August is another painful and ugly stain in the U.S. It is a constant reminder that white violence and the vicious attacks on Black folks are seen as a common practice with no accountability. With a White House led by Trump and Sessions who promote and push an agenda that pushes out and silences Black communities and communities of color, many right-wing, white supremacists are emboldened to act violently. 

Now DeAndre Harris, a victim of white supremacist violence, is being charged with a crime. The effort to criminalize DeAndre Harris is a sad but predictable reminder of the ruthless treatment of Black people by our justice system. Black people are prosecuted to the full extent of the law and never given the benefit of the doubt while we debate whether white supremacist mobs should be allowed to descend on our communities and incite deadly violence.

Prosecuting DeAndre would send a dangerous message that when white supremacist mobs come to our communities, not only can Black people not expect to be protected by law enforcement -- they must also fear being punished for trying to stand up to hate.

We demand that the Commonwealth Attorney Warner D. Chapman immediately drop all charges against DeAndre Harris. Our communities deserve justice. Virginia Commonwealth Attorney Warner D. Chapman must do the right thing and drop the charges. As the chief law enforcement officer, it is vital that he uses his leadership to heal communities inflicted by this violence in Charlottesville. 

We need support from you in order to get these charges dropped immediately. Sign the petition?  

Here is the Petition:

We demand that you drop all charges against DeAndre Harris, who was beaten bloody by six white supremacists during the Charlottesville attacks in August. Harris is being charged with unlawful wounding however he is the victim here and all charges against him must be dropped immediately. Do the right thing, drop the charges!