SAVE SOUTHERN HERITAGE FL NEWS
JUSTICE IN LEE COUNTY NAMESAKE MEMORIAL VANDAL
CASE DELAYED ANOTHER WEEK
Ft. Myers – The case for the prosecution of the Lee County Namesake Memorial vandal, David Howes, was put off again when the case was ‘continued’ Monday, November 25th until December 9th. Howe’s attorney, seems to have had an issue with the law himself, having been arrested for a firearms charge.
Howes' new attorney, Sawyer Smith, asked for more time to make a deal with the City of Fort Myers and the State Attorney. The Judge agreed and the new court date is set for Monday, December 9th.
Despite not making any ‘rulings’, Judge Thompson mentioned that he had read the pleadings (from Sons of Confederate Veterans (“SCV”) attorney David McCallister) and that he took ‘judicial notice’ of the original ‘charging document’ where SCV was listed as a ‘victim’. The State Attorney intended to eliminate the SCV as a victim, in favor of only the City of Fort Myers.
“I’m not sure we have been removed as a victim, but I’ve not heard from them and they have not filed any pleadings addressing the victim issue” McCallister said. “I don’t think the State Attorney wants to go on record as opposed to the new Constitutional Marcy’s Law rights of victims” McCallister added.
Judge Thompson said that the Constitution would be followed in his courtroom and told the parties to ‘govern themselves accordingly’.
Prior to court, supporters of Howes’ prosecutions, held a peacefully rally at the Memorial. The keynote speaker at the rally was HK Edgerton, past president of an NAACP Branch and Southern Civil Rights Activist.
Rally at County Namesake Memorial
Mr. Edgerton said “today, I have come back to Lee County to stand with these good people in seeking Justice for General Lee. I don’t know what is going to happen today at court, but I do know that if Mr. Howes gets off with a slap on the wrist, the criminal justice system has failed us.”
Edgerton also said “he (Howes) insulted me and many of you when he tore down this memorial to Lee County and if he doesn’t get a stiff penalty, its like sending an engraved invitation to thugs all around America…just come over here and mess up our stuff…we don’t mind.”
The rally included a prayer and the singing of “God Bless America.” After the rally, the supporters marched to the Lee County Justice Center chanting “What do you want…JUSTICE…When do you want it…NOW”. Watch video of the rally HERE.
March to Lee County Justice Center
The day before court, SSH FL released a poll showing that 98% of respondents believed that Howes should be convicted of a Hate Crime under Florida law.
Judge Thompson will again hear the case on Monday, November 25, 2019 at 1 p.m. at Lee County Justice Center courtroom 7B.
SAVE SOUTHERN HERITAGE Inc. is a not for profit corporation that educates & advocates on behalf of Southern Heritage & History. It was started in 2015 in response to the knee-jerk Anti-Southern institutionalized bullying and “Eracism” levied against the people of South Carolina by Governor Nikki Haley, after she broke all previous agreements about how South Carolina’s historical veterans and their symbols should be treated and respected.
The Florida branch was activated in mid-January 2016, in response to three initiatives in the Florida Legislature that are part of a hate campaign led by Anti-American extremists, who refuse to respect the various cultures that make up the fabric of Florida’s society. Since that time, it has grown in membership and has been active in battles over American History and throughout Florida including the “We’ll Remember in November Campaign” that resulted in #heritagehater candidates to lose elections in Florida and others to win. More info: www.sshfl.org.
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