On September 8, 2014 at the Superior Court in Dover Delaware Dr. Jahi Issa, formerly a professor of History and Africana Studies at Delaware State University, will face trial on charges of offensive touching and resisting arrest. He could face two years in jail.
Dr. Issa was arrested at Delaware State on March 1, 2012 for speaking to a group of his students at the Martin Luther King Jr. Student Center on campus who were planning on attending a public board of trustees meeting. Numerous of faculty, administrators and students have been subpoenaed to appear in trial for this case. Those include DSU president Harry Williams, the ACLU of Delaware.
Initially charged with protesting without a permit and inciting a riot, Issa was then accused of disorderly conduct. At the present time, Issa is now accused of offensive touching and resisting arrest despite testimony and video evidence on record that soundly refutes the allegations of the State.
Issa’s defense maintains that his 1st Amendment rights have been abridged.
Update
Just 20 minutes before facing trial Wednesday, Sept. 8 Issa told HBCU Buzz that he is sure his arrest had something to do with his writing found here on the significance of Black colleges.
“This is the first time a professor was arrested for protesting since Angela Davis,” Issa said.
More as this story continues to unfold.
