White Woman Who Spat On BLM Protestor Has Charges Dropped
A white woman who spat on a BLM protestor has had her hate crime and other charges dismissed by a judge on Friday. The victim, Keren Prescott, feels that the justice system “failed” her by allowing the woman to go through a special probation program instead of serving time.
In the 2021 incident, both women were protesting for their differing causes at the Connecticut state Capitol, the same day as the Jan 6. insurrection. To show their stance as the new legislative session began, Prescott was advocating on behalf of the Black Lives Matter movement. According to NBC News, Gilshteyn was protesting against Covid-19 related mandates but began chanting antagonistic slogans to the BLM protestors.
Tensions between the two groups, and especially the two women, escalated to the point where when Prescott told Gilshteyn to back away from her due to her lack of masking. In response, the assailant spit on her.
To elude hate crime charges, the anti-masker’s defense urged that his client’s motive was not racially charged, but the tense situation prompted her wrongful action. The judge presiding over the case, Hartford Superior Court Judge Sheila Prats, concluded that while the deed was “despicable,” it still fell under the requirements for one to bypass a criminal record if they are a first-time offender.
The defendant’s dropped charges, such as deprivation of rights, will now be dismissed upon finishing her new accelerated rehabilitation. The program requirements differ based on the case, for Gilshteyn specifically, she will have to complete 100 hours of anti-hate instruction.
However, not all are pleased with the Judge’s decision. Prescott slammed the outcome, telling the judge that the verdict feels like “being spit on once again.”
She also declared that this is another occurrence of Brown and Black people being let down by the criminal justice system, implying the results unfairly benefit the white woman who assaulted her.
The usage of the special probation program for Gilshteyn, who was on the opposing side of the BLM protestors, is especially concerning to those advocating for the racial justice movement. The incident is another in a growing list of those attacking BLM protestors without facing any serious prison time.
