HOUSTON – Two people who were arrested during a protest against the election of Donald Trump in downtown Houston on Thursday night appeared in court Monday morning.
According to prosecutors, Emily Garcia-Briones was marching in the protest when she tried to hide a body camera that got knocked off an officer. Another officer saw what happened and intervened, prosecutors said.
Shere Dore was blocking traffic in a street during the protest, according to prosecutors. A mounted officer told Dore to get back on the sidewalk, prosecutors said, but she refused. The officer then used his horse to push Dore onto the sidewalk and she punched the horse in the shoulder, prosecutors said.
“I want the world to know that our clients are absolutely innocent,” said Jolanda Jones, Garcia-Briones’ attorney. “This is just the first indications of what’s going to happen with the new president.”
“The district attorney’s office is going to try to make this not a First Amendment case,” said attorney Brian Harrison, Dore’s attorney. “There is no doubt that this is all about the First Amendment.”
Jones, who said both defendants will fight the charges, said the defense team is waiting to receive the body camera video.
Dore’s bond was raised from $2,000 to $5,000. Harrison said the judge provided no reason for the increase.