On May 16, 2025, Emancipate NC Attorney Dillon Sharpe successfully defended an Amazon labor organizer who had been arrested at Amazon RDU1 by the Garner Police Department earlier this year.
Our client, a ranking member of the Amazon Labor Union, was arrested on February 9 while participating in union organizing efforts at RDU1. She helped make history by organizing the vote that led to the first successful Amazon union in U.S. history.
Learn more atamazonlaborunion.org
Although airline delays prevented her from attending court in person, Dillon advised her of the risks and benefits of proceeding without her. The State and District Court Judge James R. Black allowed the trial to move forward in her absence.
Before trial, Dillon filed a pretrial motion to dismiss, arguing that the Wake County magistrate violated our client’s constitutional rights by improperly setting a secured, cash bond—a condition that requires someone to pay to be released from custody. Dillon pointed out that none of the legal conditions justifying such a bond applied to this case.
Judge Black agreed—and granted the motion to dismiss.
When workers and organizers are criminalized for demanding dignity and fairness, Emancipate NC shows up to defend their rights.