Was it Free Speech or Defamation? February 16, 2009

Community Activist Quanell  X has built his reputation on speaking out about cases of alleged injustice, but  did he cross the line this time?

Several  groups today spoke out in support of  Community Activist  Quanell  X, who is being sued by three Houston police officers.

Community News Conference

The officers claim Quanell ruined their reputations after he repeated allegations made by Marvin Driver, the father of NFL star Donald Driver. 

 The elder Driver claims he was beaten and drugged after he was arrested by the officers in November.

The police were cleared by an internal affairs investigation, and the Harris County District Attorney’s Office continues to investigate the case.

The community groups say this issue is bigger than Quanelll X.

They say it is  about the public’s   right to speak out against an alleged injustice.

An attorney for the officers says the lawsuit is not an attempt to silence anybody, but “it’s about demonstrating you don’t have to be subjected to lies that damage your reputation just because you are a  police officer.”

Municipal Judge Cleared by Grand Jury October 9, 2008

 

Houston Municipal Judge April Walkerhas been cleared by a Harris County grand jury months after she was arrested by Harris county deputies in an incident she called racially motivated and an act of retaliation.

According to district attorney Kenneth Magidson, “after hearing from multiple witnesses and reviewing applicable law in this case, a grand jury chose not to indict April Jill Walker for the felony offense of evading arrest.  after evaluating the evidence, the grand jury declined to indict this defendant on any charge.”

Walker was arrested in June for allegedly interfering when deputies tried to question her sons. The officers said she jumped in her car and sped off when she was told to stop.

Her case received a great deal of media attention. She hired attorney Lloyd Kelley and appeared with community activist Quanell X.

They argued it was another example of minorities being mistreated by the Harris County Sheriff’s Department.

Walker has filed a federal lawsuit against the sheriff’s department.