Fighting for justice for 70 students arrested in Bartow County

On December 31, 2017 police in Cartersville Ga. responded to a 911 call of gun shots. Officers were dispatched to a home on Cain Drive around 2:18 am -- the police arrived at a 21st birthday party for a local student, attended predominently by black kids. After being told the "gunshots" were fireworks, the police barged in anyway.

Allegedly, less than an ounce of marijuana was found at the party. The police did not find less than an ounce on each student. They found less than an ounce at the entire party and are charging all 70 students and friends at the party with this small amount of marijuana. It's reported that everyone is to pay a $2000 fine and serve 1 year on probation.

Some people at the pary have reportedly lost their jobs and this could effect a number of students' athletic eligibility and even prospects for a college education. Active members of the military were there as well.

The Bartow Cartersville Drug Task Force displayed horrible judgement and overreach. Everyone at the party should have their charges dismissed immediately!

In nearby Athens, Georgia, black individuals are nearly 5 times more likely to be charged by police over a marijuana violation than white individuals, according to media reports. Nationwide, a black person is nearly 4 times more likely to be arrested for a marijuana-related offense compared with someone who is white.

Parents, and people of the community, we should be concerned about this because these were college students. These students were held in the Bartow County jail for 72 hours not being able to make a phone call or even inform their parents of what was going on. For years the corrupt Bartow County system has gotten away with arresting people and giving hefty fines with no consequence for their actions.

The county is simply trying to make money off of people who can't afford to pay for good attorneys and can't afford to go to jail either. This county is known for stiff jail sentences and discrimination amongst young black males. You don't see the support from Cartersville for our children, but you will see the quick response to hold them back. Just last week my nephew was stopped and charged with possession of marijuana, less than 3 grams. When will Cartersville follow other counties and simply issue tickets for a drug that has already been legalized in much of America.

It's time that we as citizens of this country stand up and speak out on the injustice on these outrageous marijuana charges. If the U.S. Department of Heath can take a stance on the opioid epidemic that was started by legal physicians in the U.S., and the criminal justice system offer little to no sentences for the possession of unsubscribed opioids, surely we as a people can stand up for these students with less than an ounce of weed. How do we as a people allow this to happen? PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION.