By Alva James-Johnson
Columbus Ledger-Enquirer
COLUMBUS, Ga. — The Columbus Branch of the NAACP called Thursday for citizens of Muscogee County to stand in solidarity with the organization as it fights against alleged injustices at the Muscogee County Jail.
The statement was made at a press conference held in front of the NAACP offices at 514 First Ave.
NAACP President Tonza Thomas said the branch has received 11 complaints concerning the jail in recent months, the most recent being the case of Christopher Russell who claims he was assaulted by two officers in a jail elevator two years ago. The organization released three videos Monday that showed one of the officers throwing a snack at Russell’s back and then the two officers pouncing on Russell when he turned around.
“We understand that Sheriff Darr has asked the Mayor and City Council to increase his budget so that he can take care of these things,” she said. “If you care about your loved ones inside of that Muscogee County Jail that have medical illnesses, or not , and you have repeatedly made grievances to those people, and you got no resolution, bring those issues to the Columbus Branch of the NAACP, as we are a civil rights organization and we will investigate those claims.
“We are not against any form of law enforcement,” she added. “But where there is a problem, we’re going to address it.”
The incident occurred July 13, 2013, after Russell, a diabetic, had complained to deputies about his meals arriving late, according to those involved.
The two officers who allegedly attacked Russell in the elevator are Deputy Anthony Ermi and Correctional Officer Anthony Merritt, who has since been terminated, according to the Sheriff’s Office. During an investigation completed in July 2013, the Sheriff’s Office found Ermi’s level of force “not justified,” and suspended him for 36 hours without pay. Merritt was terminated after being charged with an unrelated crime before the investigation was completed.
Since releasing the tape three days ago, the NAACP has been calling for Ermi’s termination and the arrest of both him and Merritt for battery and assault.
Darr released a statement Wednesday saying that Ermi had been adequately disciplined for throwing a snack at the inmate and would not be terminated. He said the deputy was acting in self-defense when the inmate became aggressive.
Thomas said Thursday that the NAACP is highlighting the case because some children in the Muscogee County School District get more than three days suspension for using profanity and the deputy was only got three days for injuring someone.
“So if you have someone that’s in there that’s misusing force and they’re not being tried by a judge, but they’re being tried by their superior, of course there’s going to be leniency,” she said. “And so we’re going to take it out of that arena and put it in the courts where it belongs.”
Thomas called for citizens to join the organization Saturday for a “No Justice, No Peace Rally,” which will begin 2 p.m. with a march from the Columbus Consolidated Government building to the Muscogee County Jail. The NAACP also plans to appear before Columbus Council 9 a.m. Tuesday calling for the officers’ arrests, compensation for Russell’s injuries and a citizens’ review board with subpoena power.
J. Aleem Hud, economic development chair for the NAACP and head of Project Rebound, said the civil rights organizaton is just carrying out its mission.
“To be an American and a part of the American system requires us to have accountability,” he said. “Our whole democracy is based upon that, it’s the hallmark of our democracy. Public safety has a responsibility to protect and serve. Citizens have a responsibility to ensure that their employees - and these are public employees, they are our employees - that they are fulfilling their responsibility.
“So with the NAACP being Americans, we’re here doing our American duty and we would hope that anyone who would take issue with and take that apart and take a side against the system of democracy, then they’re the ones that are un-American and they are the ones that really put our democracy in danger.”