Tallahassee, FL – Nearly 30 community members and Tallahassee Dream Defenders attended a public hearing on April 12 in support of Antonio and Rodrizgus Richardson, two African-American brothers in Tallahassee. The brothers were wrongly convicted of first-degree murder and are facing 25 years to life in prison.

The Richardson brothers, 21 and 22 respectively, were accused of shooting James Bryant, 22, on Jan. 16, 2010 at a McDonalds drive-thru. Protesters pointed out the police found no forensic evidence linking the Richardson brothers to the murder and eyewitness testimony indicates that another man, Ken Governor, was the shooter. They say the Governor was linked to the murder weapon, recovered in a toilet tank inside a Tallahassee home.

The first trial of the Richardson brothers was declared a mistrial. The second trial featured a number of irregularities that led lawyers for the Richardson family to request a new trial. There were possible errors concerning statements of the co-defendants being used against one another. As well, the family was locked out of the courtroom during closing arguments. On April 12, Judge Sheffield presided at a public hearing to determine if he should grant a new trial.

The role of Judge Frank E. Sheffield in this miscarriage of justice is under scrutiny. The Dream Defenders are organizing to shine a light on the irregularities. Michael Sampson, a Dream Defender and senior at Florida State University said, “At the trial, Judge Sheffield stated that he wanted to get it over with quickly because it was he and his wife’s anniversary. Not only was it insensitive to the family, but it also shows that he didn’t seem to care about having a fair trial for these brothers as much as his personal life.”

Family, community members and students planned to pack the courtroom at the public hearing for a retrial. When several students and the father of the two boys attempted to enter the courtroom, they were given contradictory reasons why they were not allowed in, despite the visible rows of open seating inside. When the group persisted in demanding access, singing We Who Believe in Justice Cannot Rest, security escorted the group out of the court building.

The hearing ended with Judge Sheffield denying the brothers a retrial. “I’m disappointed, but I’m not surprised,” said Brian Marshall, a Dream Defender and sophomore at FSU. “Judge Sheffield hasn’t been on the side of justice from the beginning.”

Sampson summed up, “Dream Defenders and the Richardson brothers’ family believe their wrongful conviction is typical of African-American youth being abused by the racist Florida justice system.”

Activists interested in joining the “Free the Richardson Brothers” campaign, making a donation to their legal fund, or receiving updates should join the Facebook fan page here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Tallahassee-Demands-Free-the-Richardson-Boys/489876191047580

#TallahasseeFL #InJusticeSystem #AntiRacism #RichardsonBrothers

Tallahassee, FL – About 15 people waved signs and chanted outside the Leon County Courthouse, March 1, to protest the wrongful conviction of Antonio and Rodrizgus Richardson, two brothers recently sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder.

The Richardson brothers, 21 and 22 respectively, were accused of shooting James Bryant, 22, on Jan.16, 2010 at a McDonalds drive-thru. Protesters pointed out the police found no forensic evidence linking the Richardson brothers to the murder and eye-witness testimony indicates that another man, Ken Governor, was the actual shooter. They say Governor was also linked to the murder weapon, which was recovered in a toilet tank inside a Tallahassee home.

When the case finally went to trial in December 2012, it resulted in a mistrial after jurors overheard an attorney discussing details of the case and a defense witness was threatened by another woman if she agreed to testify.

Despite one mistrial, conflicting testimony and a total lack of forensic evidence, the jury convicted both Richardson brothers on Jan. 22, 2013. The jury deliberated for less than 45 minutes after five days of testimony, according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

Keita Monroe, the mother of Antonio and Rodrizgus, described the circumstances of the trial in an interview with Fight Back!: “It was a lot of unfairness. Defense witnesses were forced to change their statements while the jury was out in the back room and the prosecution told them what they could and could not say. It was shocking, just unbelievable.”

Florida Circuit Judge Frank E. Sheffield sentenced the brothers to life in prison with an additional 25 years in prison for aggravated battery. Friends and family of the Richardson brothers noted Sheffield’s dismissive attitude throughout the trial and his familiar relationship with prosecuting attorney John Fuchs.

“Judge Sheffield let it be known that he wanted the trial to be over by Friday because his anniversary was on that day,” noted Monroe. “This is a serious case, and he talks about his anniversary? What kind of judge does that?”

On March 1, the family and friends of the Richardson brothers assembled in front of courthouse with signs reading, “Free the Richardson boys,” “Wrongfully convicted,” and “No justice, no peace.” About an hour later, they were joined by activists from Tallahassee Dream Defenders, an anti-racist organization of Black and Latino youth.

Protesters chanted “Honk for justice,” and “Justice delayed is justice denied.” A steady stream of honks continued the whole time the protesters were assembled, with many cars stopping to ask about the case. The Richardson brothers’ family is raising money to pay for an appeals attorney. Monroe said they planned to hold car washes and fish fries to fundraise.

The campaign to free the Richardson brothers is part of a larger fight against the racist criminalization of Black and Latino youth. Monroe said, “I’m very upset about the case, but before they even got into this, I’ve seen other young black males who have been wrongfully convicted and it’s just not right.” She added, “They convict these guys at a young age and they don’t have evidence, but they convict them anyway and give them life in prison. It’s just not right, especially when you’re not guilty.”

Activists interesting in joining the “Free the Richardson Boys” campaign should join the Facebook fanpage here: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tallahassee-Demands-Free-the-Richardson-Boys/489876191047580

#TallahasseeFL #RichardsonBrothers #Courthouse #JamesBryant