By Roman Wolfe
R&B singer Kelis was acquitted of disorderly conduct and resisting arrest charges yesterday (September 11) in a Miami court.
Kelis, who is married to controversial rapper Nas, was granted the judgment of acquittal after evidence submitted during her trial that refuted prosecutors accounts.
She was originally arrested on March 2 of 2007 in Miami and was accused of screaming racial epitaphs and lunging towards two female officers, who were posing as prostitutes.
The judge ruled that there was no basis for her arrest.
"I'm thrilled that justice prevailed in the end," Kelis told AllHipHop.com. "Racial profiling is a very serious matter. Unfortunately, most victims learn to deal with this form of harassment in their daily lives because they feel that they don't have a voice or because they're not able to absorb the costs to legally fight it in court. I hope that this sheds light on the fact that wearing a uniform and carrying a badge does not allow you to act above the law."
Kelis' defense lawyer Ira N. Loewy lauded the acquittal and revealed that his superstar client planned to pursue charges against the Miami Beach Police Department.
"We feel vindicated that the court recognized that Kelis did nothing wrong," Loewy said. "Her protest over the illegal and unjustified harassment of her husband and friends was protected by her constitutional civil right to speech. She plans to bring a civil suit against the Miami Beach Police for this violation of her civil rights and unlawful arrest."
