TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Kate Prince on Jun 4, 2020

A total of four men have been arrested on varying charges related to damage at the Metro Historic Courthouse on Saturday, the Tennessean reports. The vandalism took place after a peaceful rally to protest the death of George Floyd, a black man killed by a police officer in Minneapolis. Wesley Somers and Jesse Lee Clark were charged with aggravated arson, vandalism and disorderly conduct after police say they broke courthouse windows and set fires inside. Police also claim Tondrique Fitzgerald ripped down a granite plaque commemorating the civil rights movement from the courthouse’s exterior and Vincent Hamer used objects to break at least two courthouse windows. Both of those men have been charged with aggravating rioting and vandalism. Officials say a small group of instigators infiltrated the peaceful “I Will Breathe” rally and march on Saturday, which drew more than a thousand people to downtown Nashville.