Nine protesters calling for Officer Amber Guyger to be fired from the Dallas Police Department and charged with murder for the unjust killing of Botham Shem Jean have been released on bail.
The nine people who were part of a protest that featured around 75 marchers, some of them holding two coffins, outside the stadium ahead of a N.F.L home opener Sunday night were arrested on traffic obstruction charges during protests outside of a Dallas Cowboys’ game at the AT&T Stadium.
They were booked into the Arlington City Jail on Sunday and moved Monday to Tarrant County Jail, where they stayed until Tuesday.
Stephanie Briant, 29, Darryl Burnham, 31, Miracle Freeman, 29, Arminta Jeffreys, 25, Michael Lowe, 38, Melissa Perry, 33, Davante Peters, 25, Lelani Russell, 25, and Dion Williams, 29 each had bail set at $100 for the traffic obstruction charge. Lowe, however was also charged with resisting arrest, for which his bail was set at $200.
Guyger, who was charged with manslaughter three days after shooting Botham Jean remains on administrative leave pending the outcome of an internal investigation.
Attorney S. Lee Merritt, who is representing Botham’s family said in a written statement that “this treatment of citizens outraged by the very corruption from which they now suffer is intolerable.”
The Dallas County District Attorney Faith Johnson has since pleaded for public patience as her office investigates the killing.
In a statement posted on the Dallas County website, Johnson laments, “Now is the time to ask for calm in our communities until all the facts are known and presented to a Grand Jury.” “I also am asking citizens to have faith and patience during the investigation process. You have my word that no stone will be left unturned as we work to uncover all the facts in this case.”