On the other side… BLM protestor’s account of Monday night arrest
Published 4:31 pm Wednesday, June 3, 2020
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Star Photo/Britnee Nave Protestors marching on W. State of Franklin Rd in Johnson City earlier Monday evening before arrests were made.
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BY BRITNEE NAVE
STAR CORRESPONDENT
Katlyn Kreisa was arrested on Monday night during a protest in Johnson City for the Black Lives Matter movement.
Kreisa, who resides in Elizabethton, said she was there to give others a voice.
“I wanted to attend the BLM protest to help our nation’s minority be heard,” she said. “It important for all of us to do so because it not right how a person is treated differently just because of the color of their skin when we all bleed the same blood. We are all brothers and sisters.”
She said she was not upset at the arrest itself, but rather the treatment of protestors as they were arrested.
“I knew that violating traffic was a crime. I am not mad for being arrested, it’s about how they arrested me and many others,” she said. “I was pushed by a cop with a stick, into a group of cops, who then proceeded to arrest me violently, and left me indecently exposed sitting on the pavement with the other peaceful protesters.”
Kreisa described that during the arrest, officers were confused as to whom they were protecting and whom they were serving.
“The officer that took care of the female protestors that were arrested actually seemed confused. And honestly upset. They didn’t know whom they were serving or protecting,” she said.
“Me and another person arrested, Bess Allen, continued to ask questions. They couldn’t tell us our charges because they didn’t know them. The officer that gave us our charges was not even present at the protest. They all just said they were following orders.”
Kreisa continued, providing details on injuries sustained by Allen, who also resides in Elizabethton.
“On the other end, if they weren’t confused, they were laughing and smirking,” she said. “An officer came in at one point, and as we were explaining why Bess Allen had a busted chin, the officer said, “whatever it takes.” Honestly, that just left me in shock.”
In recalling the night of the protest and arrest, she said she did not feel safe.
“Those officers, whom we taxpayers pay, took an oath to serve and protect. Not once did I feel safe,” she said. “That day of protest proved that our police force has many corruptions, and we as a nation won’t stand for police brutality amongst anyone.”
Kreisa said that the BLM movement to her means that people will no longer stand for police corruption or brutality. Likewise, she does not want black men or women to be in fear when they are in situations like being pulled over.
“I hope the message you get is that these people are angry and sad, and just want change and justice, so that way whenever a black man or woman is pulled over, instead of scared, they can feel safe,” she said.
Kreisa said she would protest again if she was needed and until people feel like they are heard. She said that ways people can help include participating in protests, donating money, educating oneself, or helping to amplify the voices of the black community.
“We can’t breathe,” she said. “All they had to do that night was take a knee with us.”
