Valarie Smith Ragland just wants to see the footage of her son dying. Makari J Smith, of Oxford, NC, was fatally shot on February 9, 2022, at the age of 23, by the Granville County Sheriff’s Office while in the midst of a probable psychotic episode.
Valarie filed the appropriate paperwork, was granted permission to view the body cam footage with one very consequential and cruel condition: she was not allowed to have ANYONE with her, for support, while she watched the final moments of her only child’s life. The judge interpreted the newly-edited statute, N.C.G.S. § 132-1.4A, to mean that ONLY the person requesting access to the footage could see it.
But, that rule only applies to the grieving family. According to the judge, the State was allowed an unlimited entourage for the viewing, including the county attorney, assistant district attorney and the sheriff. But, the woman who lost her child to state-sanctioned violence was not permitted to have her own attorney or support person. She was expected, by law, to watch her only child gunned down in a room full of people who were, arguably, responsible for his death.
Valarie was connected with Emancipate NC for help. Executive Director Dawn Blagrove accompanied her to the viewing, in the capacity of her legal representation. The Granville County Sheriff set the tone for the meeting by asking if Attorney Blagrove was Mrs. Smith Ragland’s “driver.” The interaction deteriorated from there. Everyone involved, having the discretion to treat Mrs. Smith Ragland with respect and humanity, instead used their power and the law to exert further systemic oppression by taking a firm stand that a grieving mother MUST view the video footage alone.
Emancipate NC, as it always does, helped balance the shift in power, by demanding Mrs. Smith Ragland be allowed to see the video WITH her legal representation and support present. After a conference with the judge and opposing counsel, a modified order was issued granting access to the video to Mrs. Smith Ragland and her legal counsel. She will not have to watch her son be gunned down without a hand to hold. No one should ever have to watch a video like this alone. No one. But, because of the unfair biases towards law enforcement baked into our laws and policies, the people are left with limited power and even less options for fighting back.
Mrs. Smith Ragland will not be alone watching the video of her son. She will have Emancipate NC with her. But, we fight to ensure that no grieving mother ever has to watch state sanctioned violence against her child alone. We fight so that every person has a hand to hold.