March Toward Justice
Charmaine Lawson continues efforts on son’s case
Marches, vigils and a mother who won’t stand by until justice is served for the life of her son, David Josiah Lawson.
After Charmaine Lawson met with Humboldt County District Attorney, interim Arcata Police Department Chief Richard Ehle and Chief Investigator Wayne Cox she said is “somewhat happy” with the progression of the case, according to an article published in the North Coast Journal on Jan. 25.
Lawson’s son, David Josiah, was stabbed at an off-campus party in April. Police arrested Kyle Zoellner as a suspect in Josiah’s murder and later in trial a judge ruled that due to insufficient evidence Zoellner was free to go.
It’s been 22 months since Josiah’s murder and Charmaine has organized and mobilized with the help from various local and statewide groups, such as the Committee for Justice for Josiah, Centro del Pueblo, Seventh Generation Fund, the Eureka branch of NAACP and CSU Students for Quality Education.
The Justice for Josiah Committee hosted their monthly vigil on Jan. 15.
Charmaine organized the People’s March and Rally on Martin Luther King Jr. Day and protested outside of the Humboldt County Superior Court for their Week of Action between Jan. 22-25.
“I wanted the vigil to be here because I need her to know that you’ve had this case now for more than eight weeks,” Charmaine said. “And based on the evidence that you have, it shouldn’t take you this long to make an arrest.”
The monthly vigil is an opportunity for community members and Humboldt State University students to honor and remember Josiah. Humboldt State University graduate student Molly Conso attended the last vigil.
“She [Fleming] needs to hold the Arcata police department accountable for the miscarriage of justice that occured when a student was murdered,” Conso said. “Also, the university has to be held accountable for not protecting its students, especially, its students of color.”
We let them know that we need their support and they came and did. I saw all different faces here, and it was incredible and beautiful.” — Charmaine Lawson
Charmaine said she organized the People’s March and Rally on MLK Day because Martin Luther King Jr. spoke on injustice and equality for all people, which included her son. They wanted that message to resonate with Fleming and throughout the county.
“They came out and showed their support,” Charmaine said. “We let them know that we need their support and they came and did. I saw all different faces here, and it was incredible and beautiful.”
