Colorado couple feels inward about the cross burning, intending to express sympathy for black candidates
Denver (AP) – A couple staged a cross burn to draw sympathy from voters, the man became the first black mayor of Colorado Springs, convicted Friday of murdering the fire and spreading false information about it.
Prosecutors argued that Ashley Blackcloud, the native and black, and Derrick Bernard, were carefully planned and then broadcast the scam to help the candidates. But their actions still pose a criminal threat, prosecutors said.
The cross burning occurred in 2023, under the premise of a mayoral election in the state's second largest city. Images and videos of the cross were burned in front of campaign signs with racial slander and emailed to local news outlets to enhance Yemi Mobolade's campaign.
The jury found BlackCloud and Bernard guilty of using interstate trade (internet and email) as a threat or conveying false information about attempting to intimidate Movolade with fire. They were also convicted of conspiracy to do this.
BlackCloud's lawyers did not deny BlackCloud's involvement in establishing cross-burning and signature stains during this week's trial. Bernard denied participating in the competition, but admitted during the testimony that he would spread the images even if he knew it was a scam.
Since cross-burning is protected by the First Amendment, the case boils down to whether the law is a threat.
After about four hours of deliberation, the jury submitted the verdict. Both BlackCloud and Bernard face 10 years in prison for the worst charges.
Prosecutors argued that even though BlackCloud and Bernard were aimed at helping Movolade, he saw the action as a threat, with his family buying a medical trauma kit for fire ladders and homes.
“What should Yemi and his family see in the flames? A joke? Theater?” said Bryan Fields, an assistant attorney in the United States. He said the defendant “needs the public to believe that this is a real threat to give it an election-affected impact.”
Fields likens it to a student who calls up fake bomb threats at school to avoid taking exams, forcing the school to evacuate and cause anxiety among other students.
Blackcloud's defense attorney Britt Cobb said the cross burn was just “a political stunt, political theater” to show that racism still exists in Colorado Springs. BlackCloud “this doesn't mean it's a real threat of violence,” Cobb said.
Cobb further argued that Mobolade knew it was a scam because his campaigners said in a text message that they were confident that they would play out and that Mobolade did not call the police immediately.
“If he knew it was a scam, it would be impossible to threaten it,” she said.
Mobolade strongly denies any involvement, but Cobb suggests politicians are aware of some plans, citing communications between Bernard and Mobolade before and after the cross burns. The FBI investigation did not determine that Movolade plays a role in cross burning.
“You can't maliciously convey threats when you try to help someone your way,” added Tyrone Glover, Bernard's attorney.
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Bedayn is a member of the Associated Press/Reports Corps of the U.S. State Legislative Council News Initiative. The U.S. Report is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report secret issues.
