An attorney for Georgia state Rep. Park Cannon says that she is “shaken but resolved” and will return to the state Capitol Monday to continue to fight for voting rights.
Cannon faces two felony charges of obstructing law enforcement and disrupting a general assembly session after she knocked on the door of Kemp’s office as he held a private livestream of the SB202 legislation signing.
Cannon argued that the public and members of the General Assembly should have been allowed to witness the bill signing.
“She absolutely plans to return,” Attorney Gerald Griggs told ABC News. “She’ll be doing the job that she was elected to do for her district and the people of Georgia. And as far as the charges are concerned, they’re just allegations at this point. They have to be proven beyond a reasonable doubt.”
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Video of Cannon, who is Black, being escorted out of the state House by Capitol police has sparked national outrage.
“It reminds us of the 50s and the 60s in Alabama, Mississippi and Georgia and South Carolina,” Griggs said. “But I think the governor needs to understand that we are not going to sit back on George Wallace-type tactics and not respond the same way we responded to George Wallace. So I think the rest of the country needs to take a very strong look at the tactics that are being used in Georgia.”
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Griggs said the Justice Department needs to get involved in the case and crack down on tactics state and local officials are using to try to silence voters.
The new law requires a photo identification to vote absentee by mail. It also shortens how long voters have to request an absentee ballot and limits where ballot drop boxes can be placed and when they can be used.
Dozens of supporters held a rally for Rep. Cannon on Saturday outside Atlanta City Hall.
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Griggs said he and Cannon’s team are in touch with the District Attorney’s office and are hopeful that the charges will be dismissed, but even if they are, the state should be prepared for a “prolonged legal fight.”
“The state of Georgia needs to understand that this is a nation of laws and the laws are quite clear when you unlawfully arrest someone,” Griggs said. “We believe that the facts and evidence clearly shown to the entire world show she’s innocent. So, we plan to continue to legislate the way she’s always legislated, and keep moving until these charges are dismissed.”
