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Usually when a young college student tries to get into a club with a fake ID, they are turned away. But this was not the case for Martese Johnson, an honor student at the University of Virginia. Johnson was brutalized by police for a minor infraction that was witnessed by dozens who stood by and caught footage of the assault on camera.
Students can be heard pleading with the police to stop beating Johnson who screams out “I go to UVA, you f—ing racists,” But the officers arresting Johnson were not even regular police, they were members of Virginia Alcohol Beverage Control. Johnson was charged with resisting arrest, obstructing justice without threats of force, and profane swearing or intoxication. However, he was not charged with possessing a fake ID, which started the confrontation.
“The safety and security of our students will always be my primary concern, and every member of our community should feel safe from the threat of bodily harm and other forms of violence. Today, as UVA students, faculty, and staff who share a set of deeply held values, we stand unified in our commitment to seeking the truth about this incident. And we stand united in our belief that equal treatment and equal justice are among our fundamental rights under the law,” said the school’s president, Teresa Sullivan, in a statement.
Sullivan urged those who witnessed the incident or who have direct knowledge of it to come forward and to contact the Virginia State Police at 804-674-2000, immediately.
