Talks of removing Charlotte jail support is ‘fighting fire with gasoline,’ lawyer says
Mecklenburg Sheriff Garry McFadden on Tuesday gave elected county officials a long list of complaints against a group of activists who have, for months, maintained a jail support station in uptown Charlotte. The grievances range from public defecation to vandalism, and from people bathing in the pond in Marshall Park to taunting police officers and other government employees.
Conflict between the sheriff’s office and jail support volunteers has been brewing since the group first placed tables and tents in front of the county jail in June. Activists initially set up as a supply and medical station on 4th Street during the protests over George Floyd’s death but now jail support serves anyone leaving the jail. The station has grown in size and operates nearly 24 hours a day.
Advocates say that jail support provides clothes, food, cigarettes, temporary housing and transportation for anyone who has been incarcerated. And organizers acknowledge they shout at police officers and sheriff’s deputies. But on Tuesday, following McFadden’s meeting with county officials, jail support leaders denied other allegations lobbed toward the group.
Still, McFadden told county commissioners he thinks the jail support station “has been hijacked.” He said he supports enhanced social services for people leaving the jail and pointed to his own programs like continuing education for inmates and a barbershop in the detention center.
But he told commissioners Tuesday: “No matter how we look at it, it is not jail support anymore ... It has been hijacked. We have been bamboozled. It is something else.”
County commissioners did not vote on any measures related to jail support or the sheriff’s office Tuesday. Several said they want the jail support station removed but neither the board nor McFadden said specifically what steps the county or the sheriff’s office may take.
Tensions between the the Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office and activists initially flared in June when sheriff’s deputies forcefully arrested dozens of activists who refused to move their tents and tables. Within days, the jail support station appeared across the street.
With most of the county commissioners sympathetic to McFadden’s presentation, Kevin Tully, attorney who leads Mecklenburg’s public defender’s office, warned of painting the group “with too broad a brush,” especially without jail support volunteers present to speak at the meeting.
“There is — I believe — a core group of people who are extremely interested in providing these services out of love and compassion, and are working really hard to do that,” Tully said.
He pointed out that the detention center cannot provide support services on a continuing basis after inmates leave the jail and jail support volunteers use their own money to find transportation at all hours of the day.
Speaking at a press conference after McFadden’s presentation, Ash Williams, an organizer with the social justice group Charlotte Uprising, once again called jail support “essential.”
“We’re going to be here no matter what until the jail is closed and all the people are free,” activist Jamie Marsicano said.
‘Fighting fire with gasoline’
McFadden says he was in support of the concept of jail support. But, he claims the group that has taken up residence in front of the county jail is a public disturbance and dissuades civilians, including domestic violence victims, from entering the sheriff’s office and nearby courthouse.
“Now we have people being blocked on the sidewalk. Each and every morning ... my staff (and I) are harassed,” he said.
The sheriff’s presentation included photos of feces, urine, trash, vandalism in public restrooms, protesters standing in front of the entrance and papers with “This jail kills” scattered outside.
Just before the meeting, McFadden said he was informed of “two pit bulls (fighting)“ near jail support and “another sex act” occurring on the detention center’s property. Those are just a few of the over 40 reported incidents related to jail support, he said.
A commissioner asked what services jail support offers that the detention center does not already offer in its reentry services.
“Absolutely nothing,” McFadden said. “Absolutely nothing.”
Mecklenburg County commissioners largely sympathized with McFadden, though a few acknowledged that there was no one to speak on behalf of the jail support volunteers.
“I know this has been painful ...,” Commissioner At-Large Pat Cotham said. “What has started as a good idea has evolved into something that has not been helpful.”
During the meeting, some county commissioners expressed support for the removal of jail support.
When Commissioner Susan Harden asked how such an action could be enforced, McFadden said that his purpose for the meeting was simply to inform commissioners of the situation.
Tully advised that any law enforcement should be targeted at individuals and individual actions rather than the group.
“Any large scale police action to clear that space out ... is going to be fighting fire with gasoline,” he said.
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The reaction on 4th Street
Quickly after the meeting, volunteers of jail support and organizers of Charlotte Uprising denied the allegations, defended their work and denounced McFadden. Addressing media, a few speakers said that jail support has been a source of community and had helped them or family members.
Volunteers said jail support is not involved with any vandalism or protests in front of the detention center and denied the allegations of public defecation and sex acts.
As for McFadden’s allegations about dogs fighting, volunteers pointed to the two pitbulls sleeping on the pavement.
Leigh Robbins, an employee of Novant Health, said hearing McFadden’s statements while volunteering at jail support was a “gut punch.”
“I am so disheartened by the lies that were told earlier today,” she said. “That crushes me.”
Robbins said in an interview she has been volunteering every Saturday and Sunday since the end of June as a way of continuing action after the protests. With more students returning to college, she intends to volunteer even more.
“I’ve never seen feces. We keep it clean,” she said.
This story was originally published August 19, 2020 at 10:47 AM.
