Sheena Collum Presides Over Kafkaesque Persecution of Lisa Davis
Many are celebrating the appointment of Sheena Collum, mayor of South Orange now selected by Gubernatorial hopeful Steven Fulop to be his Lt Governor running mate. If Fulop believes Collum gives him a progressive look he should have looked closer into Collum’s role in the fraudulent prosecution of Lisa Davis.
Lisa Davis for over a year has faced false charges from a protest that occurred more than a year ago in South Orange against US support for Israel and the genocide committed against the Palestinian people of Gaza.
After a person disrupted the protest and shouted in Lisa Davis’s face and went on an incoherent rant, police came. Lisa Davis shared video of the incident as evidence of the hostile disruption caused by the provocateur.
The town ended up charging Lisa Davis, the only African American person at the event, with two false accusations: that she led the protest without getting a permit and that she illegally used a sound device. During the first part of the trial , the prosecution’s fraudulent case, it was demonstrated through polce reports that the charges were only made after the town counsel and town council had discussed the acitivities – the charges were made for political reasons.and are patently false.
This editor watched the prosecution’s case of the trial. The police lied but the prosecutor pushed his nothing case and the judge acted like there was basis for the ridiculous and false accusations. – it was adjourned before the defense could present. The prosecutor tried to get the defense to accept dropping the charges “with cause” which would prevent civil accountability for the wrongful prosecution. He was upsed when Lisa Davis refused to give up her right to hold the proseuctor and South Orange Village accountable.
Collum’s role in this mess is clear. Before Lisa was falsely charged by South Orange the matter was discussed at the municipal level and with the Town Counsel. How do charges make such a circumventional route if they are based upon evidence and not politics?
Personally this editor is victim of another false accusation – one by NJ Assembly member Roy Freiman who has accused me of “bribery” for effectively organizing politiical opposition to his support for IHRA – they are tyrants and do not believe people who disagree should he allowed to challenge them. They are arresting people for the sole reason who disagree with them vocally and because they have the power to do so.
I would suggest Collum is a bad choice. I would also suggest that she preside over her prosecutor – review the foolish and slanderous case and tell the prosecutor to drop it – he already offered but “with cause” which would deny Lisa Davis’s right to hold Collum’s West Orange administration accountable for the crime of this false prosecution. Such accountability is necessary or the creep toward fascism will increase.
FightBackBetter is with Lisa Davis’s campaign to follow the accountability trail as Collum tries to climb the political ladder. My recommendation Sheena and Steven – cut your losses – drop this case – apologize to Lisa and see what happens with any follow up accountability. One thing I am learning as I face potential charges from the OAG for the false accusation by NJ Asm Roy Freiman – and I am nervous in so far as the support has not been overwhelming even from advocacy efforts – I am going to make sure I am side by side with Lisa as FightBackBetter has been and will amplify this concern of Sheena Collum being moved into the Lt Gov candidacy – it could mean that these sort of lawfare warfare operations – as I face and as LIsa face will increase with her in that spot in power.
One way to distill that fear would be IMMEDIATELY DROP THE FALSE CHARGES AGAINST LISA DAVIS! COLLUM, FULOP . . . NOW!
