By Tavon N. Thomasson
AFRO Intern
Supporters of Marilyn Mosby gathered June 27 at The Forum on Primrose Avenue in Baltimore for a dinner honoring her strength and perseverance amid recent legal challenges.
As guests settled in with plates in hand and conversations buzzing across the room, retired police Lt. Tyrone W. Bost opened the evening with remarks framing the night as a tribute to Mosby. The spirit of celebration and solidarity echoed in the words of each speaker who took the podium afterwards and those in attendance.
Mosby’s handling of the Freddie Gray case remains a defining moment, according to Pastor Rodney Hudson of Ames Memorial United Methodist Church, who said it’s one of the many reasons people continue to rally behind her.
“One of the things that she did to calm this city down was…when she charged those police officers who had wrongly murdered Freddie Gray. That saved the city,” said Hudson, during an interview. “Anyone who was there during that time, who had marched, knows that if she had not done that, this city would have burnt down.”
Baltimore radio personality and funeral director Carlton C. Douglass, with his wife Darlene Douglass, said he felt compelled to show up in support of Mosby, given what he sees as her unfair targeting by the justice system.
“I felt a great injustice was done to her. She was railroaded, in my view. I’ve never heard of a case like that, where you borrow your own money to do something with, and then the feds come after you. That’s unprecedented,” said Douglass, during an interview.
As the evening unfolded with dance performances and heartfelt gifts, Mosby eventually took the stage to thank her supporters and reflect on the long journey that led to this moment.
“I thank God every day for sending earth angels into my life at my darkest and lowest point to give me that lifeline when I needed it most,” said Mosby, during her speech to the crowd. “Those of you in this room were that lifeline, those of you that showed up into that courtroom were my angels.”
Before stepping off stage, Mosby left the audience with some final words..
“Now that I have finally regained my power—now that I have finally regained my right to act, speak and think without restraint—they better watch out, because what I have now is a testimony,” said Mosby, during her speech. “What I have now is life experience, wisdom, discernment, clarity, and I know my power… . So I recognize who I am. I now value who I am… and I’m never going to forget who I am.”
Mosby’s legal team is working to have the remaining two years of her supervised release dismissed.