Judge refuses restraining order after 10 years of racial harassment because victim can't afford lawyer
A Tennessee veteran who has been a victim of 10 years of racial harassment said this week that a judge refused to give her a restraining order because she did not have a lawyer.
The African-American veteran, who identified herself as Staff Sergeant Briscoe, told WHBQ last week that the harassment started after her family bought their dream home on four acres of land in Millington in 2005. Since then, she has endured racial epithets by people in the neighborhood and finds things like bottles of urine left in her front yard.
Most recently, she said she had discovered a "used female product" lying in front of her mailbox. And last month, men with Confederate flags slowed down in front of her home and called her and her son "mother f*cking n****rs."
Although Briscoe was able to obtain a temporary restraining order, a judge this week refused to grant her a permanent protection order until she hired a lawyer.
"I'm appalled that I would need an attorney to fight this battle because my son and I were on our own property," she explained to WHBQ on Tuesday. "We were minding our own business, but now we have to hire and attorney because they hired an attorney."
"It doesn't seem fair to me," Briscoe added.
The judge issued a continuance until Briscoe can hire an attorney. In the meantime, Briscoe said that she had installed cameras around her home, and at least one neighbor had apologized to her on behalf of the entire community.
Watch the video below from WHBQ, broadcast Aug. 12, 2015.
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