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Martinez Couple Plead Not Guilty To Misdemeanor Hate Crime, Other Charges Linked To BLM Paint Over Incident

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A screen grab from a video of the incident filmed July 4.

Two Martinez residents accused of attempting to paint out a city-approved Black Lives Matter slogan on a downtown street pleaded not guilty to hate crime and other misdemeanor charges filed against them after they were videotaped in the act.

Residents Nichole Anderson, 42, and David, Nelson, 53, were charged with three misdemeanors including a hate crime for their actions during the July 4 weekend – when onlookers filmed their efforts to paint over a portion of the BLM slogan with black paint.

The video, which garnered worldwide attention, depict Anderson attempting to cover up the first two letters of the slogan while Nelson, wearing a “Four More Years” t-shirt, films her and engages angry passersby.

On Tuesday an attorney for the pair, who are domestic partners, said he was “looking forward” to challenging the charges against the couple in court.

“We look forward to presenting our case to the jury,” attorney Bilal Essayli said. “We think the charges here, frankly, are outrageous. That a highly politicized DA who’s funded by George Soros would categorize anyone who disagrees with the radical Black Lives Matter organization as hateful or racist… It’s an overcharge in our view, it’s a political message and the justice system should not be weaponized in that manner.”

Essayli, whose firm was hired to defend the case by conservative nonprofit group the Center for American Liberty, argued that Nelson and Anderson were merely expressing their political views.

“This case is really about the city of Martinez using taxpayer dollars and taxpayer property to co-sponsor and endorse the Black Lives Matter organization, which is anti-police and is anti-American,” Essayli said.

Contra Costa County District Attorney Diana Becton did not comment on Tuesday’s court proceeding but said in a release at the time charges against the couple were announced:

“We must address the root and byproduct of systemic racism in our country. The Black Lives Matter movement is an important civil rights cause that deserves all of our attention. The mural completed last weekend was a peaceful and powerful way to communicate the importance of Black lives in Contra Costa County and the country. We must continue to elevate discussions and actually listen to one another in an effort to heal our community and country.”

Anderson and Nelson are expected to return to court on October 13 to set a trial date.

9 COMMENTS

      • 60 year old Georgian, forced off the road into a ditch by a police officer and shot in the face because he wouldn’t pull over. How rude to the police officer. Bingo! No need for evidence or peer review. Bingo! No need for a trial. Bingo! Officer charged with Murder O. New day O?

  1. Just lonesome George Soros? No mention of Obama, O’biden, or Crooked Hillary? Weak defense.
    Center for American Liberty. Freedom Caucus. Freedom Fries!!! I, too, am tired of WINNING and looking forward to Nov 3.

  2. Who could have known that when he said he would “drain the swamp” he would do it by watching most of his advisors and staff marched off to prison?

  3. Think of your fellow man
    Lend him a helping hand
    Put a little love in your heart
    You see it’s getting late
    Oh, please don’t hesitate
    Put a little love in your heart
    And the world will be a better place
    And the world will be a better place
    For you and me

    You just wait and see
    Another day goes by
    Still the children cry
    Put a little love in your heart
    If you want the world to know
    We won’t let hatred grow
    Put a little love in your heart
    And the world (And the world) will be a better place
    All the world (And the world) will be a better place
    For you (For you) and me (And me)

    You just wait (Just wait) and see, wait and see
    Take a good look around
    And if you’re looking down
    Put a little love in your heart
    I hope when you decide
    Kindness will be your guide
    Put a little love in your heart
    And the world (And the world) will be a better place
    And the world (And the world) will be a better place
    For you (For you) and me (And me)
    You just wait (Just wait) and see

    Nuthin says LOVE like buckets of black paint and a good helping of rage…

  4. “Witnesses seen and heard on the officer’s body camera video backed Gonzales’ claim and said the officer sped into a u-turn, then plowed into the cyclist.

    Attorney Robert Powell is suing Officer Lezama personally because he believes the officer deprived his client of his civil rights. He said qualified immunity which routinely shields law officers from suits, shouldn’t apply.

    “The problem is, it’s being used to basically let officers get off for egregious acts,” said Powell. Added Greg Woods, a professor in San Jose State University’s Department of Justice Studies, “How often do we think it might be reasonable to pull somebody over on a bicycle by ramming their car into them.” ”

    KTVU DEC 09 2019…it happens somewhere every day. when will we address it?

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