Juanita Young acquitted

Juanita Young was found not guilty of six misdemeanor counts on Oct. 17 by a Bronx jury. On Nov. 26, 2006, police and Emergency Medical Services workers came in response to a 911 call to Young’s home. Instead of helping, the police started attacking Young. They drew their guns.

Young was arrested and taken to a hospital where she was handcuffed to a bed for days. The day before, cops had fired 50 shots at Sean Bell in Jamaica, Queens, killing him.

Young has been targeted since her 23-year-old son, Malcolm Ferguson, was killed by New York police on March 1, 2000. Young works in the Oct. 22nd Coalition to Stop Police Brutality with other family members whose loved ones have been killed by cops.

Malcolm Ferguson was unarmed and had committed no crime. His death was ruled “justifiable homicide.” On June 6, 2007, a civil court jury ruled that excessive force was used in his death.

Young was illegally evicted by her landlord in June 2003. Police pushed her down the stairs. One of the cops told her, “No rallies for you today.”

Judge Benitez dismissed Young's trespassing charges. Young’s lawyer at that time was Lynne Stewart, who is now facing jail time for defending Muslims indicted under the Patriot Act. Another civil court jury in October 2007 found that excessive force was used against Young.

Young was again arrested at a World Can’t Wait anti-war demonstration in November 2005. Before her arraignment the charges were dropped.

At her recent trial following the police attack in her home, Young was defended by David Rankin and Geoffrey Stewart, son of Lynne Stewart, in Judge Margaret Clancy’s court.

Young’s supporters in court included former political prisoner and Young Lords Party member Panama Vicente Alba. Another supporter, activist Mia Cruz, was kicked out of the courtroom and given a ticket for disorderly conduct.

Assistant District Attorney Allyson Kohlmann called four witnesses: emergency medical technician Jennifer Lampert and three cops.

They painted Young as ‘violent’ and ‘out of control.’ According to them Young threw numerous cans at police without hitting anybody. Yet none of these “weapons” were introduced into evidence.

Young actually threw one plastic container of cake frosting mix at a wall. Lampert claimed that Young was scratching and biting people, but cops didn’t report any injuries.

Police officer Sean Higgins said Young attacked a whole line of armed police officers.

Both Higgins and Sgt. Nolan claimed Young screamed “f——-g white devils” at the police. District Attorney Kohlmann stated that Young shouted this at Higgins just outside the courtroom.

Young’s neighbor, Penny Davis, said a police sergeant “stormed into the apartment” and grabbed her by mistake. “The tall cop”—Higgins—then said Young “is the one.”

The sergeant “snatched” Young and pushed her into the bedroom. “All I could hear was screaming,” said Davis.

After kicking out her bedroom door, Young walked into her kitchen and was pushed to the floor by police. “They were kicking the crap out of her,” said Davis. They stood her up like “a rag doll” and handcuffed Young.

Davis screamed, “Don’t shoot her!” when cops drew their guns.

Young told the jury that she had been a teacher for mentally challenged children until her youngest daughter was born.

Young has had asthma for 30 years and has been legally blind since she was 18 or 19 years old. Young told the jury what she told police: “You killed my son. You abused me. You’re not taking my daughter.” Kohlmann had tried to exclude any testimony about how Young’s son was killed.

Police told Young, “We should have killed you,” as they handcuffed her.

Young insisted she never used the term “white devils.” The jury could see Black, Latin@, Asian and white supporters in the courtroom.

Kohlmann cross-examined Young and tried to provoke her. It didn’t work.  Kohlmann also baited Young about her civil suit on her son's killing.

Geoffrey Stewart appealed to the jurors to use their common sense and acquit Young. Kohlmann wanted a guilty verdict. She even insinuated Davis lied because of an interest in Young’s suit. It took the jury two-and-a half hours to find Young not guilty.  Young told WBAI’s Sally O’Brien: “I’m feeling very happy now. I’m overjoyed.”

The writer attended many of Young’s trial proceedings.