On Thursday, Georgia State troopers arrested Democratic state Rep. Park Cannon outside the office of Gov. Brian Kemp. Cannon was among a group of protesters who gathered outside Kemp’s office as he signed a sweeping elections bill that restricts voting access in the state.
According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Cannon knocked on Kemp’s office door, saying the public should be allowed to witness the announcement of the bill signing. The legislation requires ID for absentee ballots, limits drop boxes and changes early voting hours.
“The officers forcibly removed Cannon, dragging her through the Capitol and pushing her into a police car,” AJC reports.
Eyewitnesses say Cannon was not causing a disturbance.
In the video, others in the Capitol can be heard asking officers, “Why are you arresting her?”
She was charged with obstruction of law enforcement and disrupting General Assembly sessions, according to the Georgia State Patrol.
The affidavit states that Cannon was charged with disrupting General Assembly session because she “knowingly and intentionally did by knocking the governor’s door during session of singing [sic] a bill.”
The arrest affidavit for the felony obstruction charge said she “did knowingly and willfully hinder Officer E. Dorval and Officer G. Sanchez of the Capitol PD, a law enforcement officer in the lawful discharge or the officer’s official duties by Use of Threats of Violence, violence to the person of said officer by stomping on LT Langford foot three times during the apprehension and as she was being escorted out of the property. The accused continued on kicking LT Langford with her heels.”
Georgia State Patrol said she was warned repeatedly to stop knocking on Gov. Kemp’s door, but she refused.
“She was advised that she was disturbing what was going on inside and if she did not stop, she would be placed under arrest,” said GSP spokesman Lt. W. Mark Riley, according to AJC. “Rep. Cannon refused to stop knocking on the door.”
Attorney Gerald Griggs told CNN he was at the Fulton County jail working to bond Cannon out.
“We are getting her out of jail currently. We are gathering information on the case as well. There are multiple videos and we are in contact with the DA,” Griggs said.
