Local organization hosts a rally to support Kieanna Garrett in ongoing legal case

Share
Flyer with details about the press rally. Credit: TAARPR via Facebook.

In Polk County on Thursday, local advocates against police brutality will call for charges to be dropped against Kieanna Garrett.

Garrett is said to have been harassed and targeted by a Lakeland PD officer since 2022, when he hit their car. Issues continued to escalate when, in 2023, Garrett said her partner and she were stopped, where she was pulled out of the car, punched in the face, and brutalized by the officer. 

Garrett said she faced multiple injuries, including a dislocated rotator cuff, black eyes, scars, and bruises. 

Matt Foster, TAARPR media spokesperson, said this press rally is to show solidarity with Garett. 

“With the press rally, we’re looking to bring attention to this case and put pressure to hopefully get these bogus charges on Kieanna dropped before reaching trial,” said Foster. 

TAARPR said the Lakeland PD has a pattern of police brutality, including the officer who, Garrett said, brutalized her. The organization is hoping to promote community control of the police.

Foster said they hope the charges will be dropped and her nursing license reinstated. 

“As a consequence of her arrest, her nursing license was revoked, and she’s been unable to work as a nurse, which she had done for decades,” said Foster.  “So she’s been forced to find other work in the meantime to get by.”

The rally will take place outside Bartow Courthouse at 8:00 am on Thursday. If you are planning on doing court support, it is asked that you wear court-accepted attire.

Leave a Reply

  • (will not be published)

XHTML: You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

You may also like

Everglades wetlands
Everglades National Park considered ‘in danger’ by United Nations group

Listen: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, or...

TPUSA Protest Tampa Turning Point
People will protest against the Turning Point USA summit in Tampa

A conservative youth organization is holding a summit this coming...

The Scoop: Wed. July 9, 2025, Tampa Bay and Florida headlines by WMNF

WMNF headlines include new no-wake law, new charter schools law,...

Kori Stevens Reflects on Drag, Community Giving, and Inclusion

Tampa Bay drag legend Kori Stevens joins The Big Gay...

Ways to listen

WMNF is listener-supported. That means we don't advertise like a commercial station, and we're not part of a university.

Ways to support

WMNF volunteers have fun providing a variety of needed services to keep your community radio station alive and kickin'.

Sonic Sunrise
Player position: