In response to published
reports regarding Foxy Brown’s alleged disrespectful behavior before Judge
Melissa C. Jackson, Hip-Hop Summit Action Network’s Dr. Benjamin Chavis
issued an eyewitness account surrounding the events leading to Brown being handcuffed
to a court bench Friday (Dec. 23).
Brown was in court scheduled to plead guilty in accordance with an agreement reached
with the district attorney for striking two nail workers with a cell phone in
a dispute over payment of a manicure.
After reviewing the agreement, Judge Jackson rejected the plea, citing the deal
as being too lenient.
As Judge Jackson set a retrial date, she remarked that Brown
was chewing gum and being disrespectful throughout the trial.
“Judge Jackson destroyed the agreement by imposing harsh conditions different
from what had been agreed to by the district attorney,” Dr. Chavis told
AllHipHop.com. “After Foxy rejected the judge’s unfair conditions,
she was subjected to the judge’s personal prejudice and cultural bias.
“Provoking an incident, Judge Jackson erroneously accused Foxy of chewing
gum in her courtroom and deceiving the judge about her hearing loss. Foxy had
no gum,” revealed Dr. Chavis.
Chavis stated that Foxy’s hearing loss had been well documented and known
to the courts for the past six months and was never questioned until the incident
in court yesterday with Judge Jackson, who is white.
“Claiming Foxy had disrespected the court, the judge ordered
Foxy to the bench where she was surrounded by court officers who forcefully
handcuffed her,” Chavis continued. “There was absolutely no justification
to have Foxy Brown handcuffed inside the court today. By doing so, the judge
not only embarrassed Foxy before the court but humiliated her family and supporters
as well.”
Judge Jackson gave Brown two chances to apologize or face 30 days in jail and
a $1,000 fine for contempt of court.
Brown then appeared
before Judge Jackson and stated: "I apologize for my actions."
A return date is scheduled for Jan. 23.
