Rutledge for Virginia Governor – No longer finds all black or white juries constitutional and demands diversity in all verdicts worthy of the public confidence!

Rutledge for Virginia Governor 2021 – “There will no longer be all white or black juries in Virginia. There will be 4 white, 4 black, 4 hispanic/non latino legal citizens that decides justice with our juries. This is a very bold move. I could care less if any establishment has a problem with it, because I don’t answer to them. I answer to the American people and our juries should be representative of a verdict worthy of the public confidence. I pledge to all Virginians that I will make sure this happen and I hope other states follow suit. However, this is the most meaningful form of criminal justice reform that has everyone represented. There will not be any all any race as a jury. We will have justice that we all can believe in. Our juries will be diverse – just like our great Commonwealth and America!
http://www.rutledgeforvagovernor.com

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Danville, Va City Manager states major crimes are done by unmarried black males in the City.

Signs of success
In the initial focus 
neighborhood, many 
homes are well maintained, 
stable and owner-occupied 
as much so as any in the 
city. But there also are pockets of 
blight. What was most disturbing in 
this area, however, was the number of 
homicides – 13 since January 2005. 
To put that in perspective, more than 
half of the total of 24 homicides in 
Danville during that time period had 
occurred in this neighborhood, which covers less 
than one square mile in a 
city of 44 square miles.
“Our analysis of the 
victims and perpetrators 
showed that these were 
unemployed, unmarried, black males 
from single-parent households who 
had a criminal record, were known 
to each other and ranged in age from 
their late teens to late 20s,” King says.

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To: City of Nor…

To: City of Norfolk, Va public officials
From: Merle T. Rutledge Jr and Donna Lea

Concerns/Complaint against Norfolk Va Police Matthews

I was informed by Donna Lea aka Lee that she had problems with the City of Norfolk, Va Police Department after a somewhat hit and run (from officers prospective). Ms. Lee alleges that after the accident and while in the hospital that she was treated rudely by City of Norfolk, Va Police officers. She was hit by a car in which the driver did not stay until police was around.  After she pleaded, for the man to stay until officers arrived. The man left his license plate number and a business card, but obviously in allege fear of arrest, departed from the scene of the accident. Ms. Lee was left hurt, crying, and pleading for anyone to help assist her because she was injured and in obtaining information on the driver responsible. While she was at the hospital, she was told rudely to get off her phone while talking to her daughter. She had fingers put in her face by Officer Matthews because he refused to file a report, and this was the method of mannerism used to instill that point.

Ms. Lee alleges that she was treated like a criminal instead of a victim. She feels that the Norfolk, Va police department could have done more and refused to do their job and make an arrest for someone fleeing the scene of an accident, while injured parties was clearly present. I am seeking a full re investigation into the actions of Officer Matthews and his superiors. Ms. Lee alleges that Sergeant Kelly was aware of her complaint and told her that there would be a phone call returned to her. In regards, to her allegations against Officer Matthews. There was no phone call returned and no further follow up done in regards to the accident or her complaint against Officer Mathews. She also has complaints against other police officers, including Officer Sterling, that she alleges knowingly mislead her in saying the Virginia license plate did not exist  to anyone particular, and that the Police Department could get no hit on the identification of the driver.  She was also told that she could not get any information on the driver and this is when she knew that the Police Department has critical information towards identifying the driver, for even insurance purposes.  However, the same information was supplied to her by the  insurance company.  The insurance company was not only able to get a hit on the license place, but was also able to identify the driver involved in allege hit and run, and fleeing the scene of a car accident.

Ms. Lee alleges that she did not give permission to the driver to leave and that the business card and virginia license plate left behind by the negligent party, was given to her under duress and that she in no way gave the intention that the driver should leave the scene. Nowadays, it seems like the City of Norfolk, Va Police Department is in serious need of people skills and ways to conduct themselves with victims of an allege crime or accident. I am concern with the direction that the Police Department is going in with handling complaints and taking relevant information in regards to allege crimes that happen with people, that they deem on a personal level, as being not fit for Equal Protection of the law. I am leaving her phone number (757) 401 0661 and expect serious follow up in regards to this officer and his supervisors.
Lastly, She wants an apology for the disrespect and lack of sensitivity and rude mannerisms done by this officer and his colleagues which are mention in this letter. The incident occured this year and I believe on May 24, 2012. I want all accident reports, police records, 911 calls, and documents done by police or depatch in regards to this incident as a Virginia Freedom of Information Act request. I perfer the information e-mailed to me. This whole matter needs to be reinvestigated.including the officers involved. Also, she alleges that Officer Matthews said that the only thing she could do was file a civil suit and gave her a legal conclusion, “that the lawsuit will go nowhere.” When did police officers become lawyers?  She also wants the man arrested on criminal charges for his conduct and actions in regards to the car accident.

From: Merle T. Rutledge Jr
Norfolk, Va
Civil Rights Activist and Mayoral Candidate for Mayor of the Town of Chatham, Va

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Chesapeake High Michelle Edwards should be expelled

Hickory High senior Michelle Edwards has been suspended and after posting a note about a teacher on a friend’s Facebook wall. Edwards, who was photographed on Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2011, is no longer recommended for expulsion. (Steve Earley | The Virginian-Pilot)

By Elisabeth Hulette
The Virginian-Pilot
© November 10, 2011

CHESAPEAKE

The school division on Wednesday dropped its recommendation to expel Michelle Edwards, a Hickory High senior who posted a threat about a teacher on Facebook.

Instead, she will be suspended for 90 days, said her father, John Edwards.

“There’s a lesson to be learned. I think a lot of kids can benefit from what Michelle did,” he said. “She knows she did wrong. She’s paying for her mistakes, and she doesn’t want to see other kids in the same situation. It’s so easy to post something and not be able to take it back.”

Edwards posted the note on Oct. 19 after she and a friend were given a lower-than-expected grade – 93 – on an English essay. The teacher called part of it “incoherent,” and the friend was upset, so Edwards said she commiserated using sarcasm.

“I say we shoot our english teacher in the face,” she posted on the friend’s wall. “But then again we might not be able to carry that out since we’re so incoherent.”

Another teacher saw the post and reported it, and Edwards has been suspended since. School officials recommended her for expulsion, and she was waiting for her hearing before the School Board – until Wednesday morning.

Now that the expulsion recommendation has been dropped, she’ll continue her studies with the help of a teacher sent to her home, her father said. After 90 days, she’ll return to school, and at the end of the year she’ll be able to graduate with her class.

Elisabeth Hulette, (757) 222-5216 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting (757) 222-5216

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It was clearly a threat and race plays a issue in any support

Submitted by Merle T. Rutledge Jr on Thu, 11/10/2011 at 9:27 am.

Yes their maybe first amendment questions involved in such a post and it was clear that their was no intent to carry out such actions. She expressed anger and frustration over the teacher scrutiny of her paper. However, a threat is a threat. It seems as if a person is of African American decent and does the same thing than the school acted appropriately but for a white girl than it seems like cruel and unusual punishment. She did wrong, and her family has acknowledged and taken responsibility as stating that such conduct amongst its own members will not be tolerated. I think she should have been expelled and even charged criminally so that a real message can be demostrated that any threat to do harm to anyone will not be tolerated.

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