African American leaders held a press conference on Thursday to blast top democrats for rushing to judgement on State Rep. Jovan Melton (D). Democratic leaders have called on Melton to resign following news reports about two past arrests on domestic violence related issues dating as far back at 1999.
One of the cases was dismissed. The other resulted in a deferred sentence. Bishop Acen Phillips says lawmakers are trying to play judge and jury in a case that has already been adjudicated. He says the calls to resign are "almost what you'd call a 21st century lynching of a black man."
Also speaking on behalf of Melton were Wellington and Wilma Webb and the Rev. Patrick Demmer. They say Melton accepted punishment and turned his life around to become a strong leader and advocate for their community.