Merle Rutledge Jr endorses Michael J. Muhummad for Mayor of he City of Norfolk, Va

Merle Rutledge

June 1

Merle T. Rutledge Jr endorses Michael J. Muhammad for Mayor of the City of Norfolk, Va 2014!
Merle Rutledge press statement –  “Everytime there has been a issue in our community. You have been there. You have stepped up. You have spoke out. You have accepted …responsibility. You have claimed leadership and have made up for the patriotism that we need. I have been away for a long time and I am energize by this news as I return back to my great City. It is a lot of work that we have to do as a community to ensure that this election is our chance to show that we are a voice to reckon with and that our issues will no longer be ignored. However, Mr. Muhammad needs all of our help. Every single one of you hitting like needs to vote. We need to be knocking on doors. We must be building bridges of love not hate. I remember that a police officer said crime is up because the city is getting more black. We need justice that is colorblind. We need city leadership that embraces diversity and not segregation. We vote for equal opportunity and regime change that is motivated by people and not greed. It is about time that we move forward in making Michael J. Muhammad, mayor of the City of Norfolk, Va. I fully endorse his campaign and will do whatever it takes to make sure that the right leadership is put in place.

Merle Rutledge The voice of leadership was silent and it is not today. I am very proud to know that it is not happening today or in the future.

Picture below is to the far right in this picture Michael J. MuhammadSee More

— with Michael J. Muhammad.

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Merle T. Rutledge Jr remembers Joshua “Omar” Johnson story saved his life!

Justice for Joshua ‘Omar’ Johnson saved my life!
On January 9, 2013, I was pulled over with a friend by the Norfolk Police Department officers.  During stop, I was told by one Officer Plaza that I could go, while another officer told me I had to stay in a refusal to respect the other officer call.  At the time that the officer was telling me to go while the female officer Tessier was saying that …I could not leave, her head was so close to the car that if I would have pulled off than it was a good chance that she would have been hit.   I stayed still and asked calmly the female officer could I leave.  She repeated that I could not go and could care less about her fellow officer decision to leave.  I followed the ruling that was that stated by the U.S Supreme Court that if you are told to stay by a police order after asking if you are free to leave and there is no legal justification than the seizure becomes unreasonable and illegal.  My car was perfectly fine and legal to be on the road, but sometimes police officers lose control of their professionalism and job duties when they run into people that know their rights.   Mr. Johnson shows the ultimate consequence of dealing with police under certain conditions.   The deadly consequences that come from dealing with the police.  Mr. Johnson stuck a officer which is not in dispute, however whether it was intentional or a split second action that could have been prevented in its totality is still a matter of dispute in the community because the city has refused to release the final moments of Mr. Johnson life.  The City of Norfolk, Va has refused to release the tape of this traffic stop.  However, I feel it would have been released if it had been favorable to the police.  I think about this tragic death at the hands of police every time I spend a minute working on this lawsuit which was approved to move forward in Norfolk, Va Federal Courts.  I even asserted his tragedy in my case of the consequences if I had to decided to go with one officer request, even though I knew it could endanger or hurt another officer and be interpreted as grounds to kill another black man.  Mr. Johnson is not going to be forgotten and the issue will not be ignored as more and more people take the fear that they have and use it for positive growth.  A complaint that is taken up by a citizen and its proved makes the police departments and city government more efficient.  It is your duty to report abuse and to take a stand against it.  It is the public job to debate the justice and to make sure it is administered equally.   2pac said it best, the power is in the people and into the politics that is addressed!  This message may only be of words of encouragement as they continue to grieve for their loved ones, God gave his only begotten son so that we could live.”  Your son is still god son, and some are living but dying inside.  However, his life and death is motivation for new breath of life in those to make sure it does not continue to happen again!
Thank you Mr. Johnson and your Family/Friends,
Merle T. Rutledge — with Michael J. Muhammad.See More

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  Michael Elder and Marquis Miles like this.

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