Help Matthew Stewart
Ogden–Family and friends of Matthew David Stewart will gather Thursday to organize political resistance to the War on Drugs. Stewart is facing the death penalty for an incident in which officers from the Weber-Morgan Narcotics Strike Force violently invaded his home, allegedly to investigate marijuana.
“The outpouring of support for Matthew in Utah and across the country has been a welcome reaction to this terrible incident,” says Stewart’s father, Michael Stewart, also of Ogden. “Our goal with this meeting is to thank those supporters, but also organize their passions to raise awareness of Matthew’s case and fight for a sensible and non-violent drug policy.”
The meeting, titled “Keep the Peace,” will be at the Weber County Main library at 24th and Jefferson in Ogden, in the auditorium downstairs, at 7:30 p.m., Thursday April 12.
The group’s political initiatives, as well as a direct support strategy to help Matthew’s defense team, will be unveiled at the meeting, followed by a time for the news media to ask questions.
After the unveiling and question period, Andrew McCullough, a candidate for Utah Attorney General and longtime advocate for a non-violent drug policy, will speak at the event. David Goddridge, a former Los Angles narcotics officer and member of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, will also speak.
Matthew David Stewart, a decorated former soldier of the United States Army Airborne and an avid outdoorsman, is facing aggravated murder charges and several other felonies for the January 4 incident. Police invaded Stewart’s home under the alleged authority of a search warrant. Matthew says he believed he was being robbed and felt his life was threatened by the invasion. One officer was killed, while five others were injured–friendly fire is suspected by many to account for some if not all the injuries. No one knows exactly what happened inside the home as traumatized memories of the event are understandably incomplete.
“We feel terrible for the death of Officer Jared Francom, the injuries and trauma of the other officers, as well as the injuries to Matthew,” says Liz Martinez Hoffman, a family friend. “But it’s clear to any thinking person that the violent War on Drugs caused this terrible situation, not Matthew himself. He is also a victim of this situation.”
Prosecutors have slowly provided discovery evidence to the defense and have cut corners in the process of trying to seize Matthew’s home.
“We will not let this happen to our son, brother, cousin, friend, our fellow in humanity without strongly resisting this oppression,” says Erna Stewart, Matthew David Stewart’s sister-in-law. ”Not only will we educate the public on the violent failures of the War on Drugs, we intend to bust the pillars in our community that uphold these unjust policies that took Officer Francom’s life and put Matthew in this hell.”
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Well said! i wish Id known i would have been at this event.Ill pay more attention from here on out. Let us all know how the fund is doing. well I hope. I will continue to support the fund tell
the goal is met.
Very encouraging to see the people banding together in support of Matthew.