LYNN — The trial date for a Black Lives Matter activist accused of assaulting an 80-year-old woman has been set for Nov. 30.
Ernst Jean-Jacques, also known as Shimmy, was arrested in Swampscott in December and charged for allegedly punching President Donald Trump supporter Linda Greenberg at a protest.
Outside of Lynn District Court on Wednesday morning, where a trial readiness hearing was held for Jean-Jacques, protesters voiced their support for the activist with signs, chalk messages and megaphones blasting looped recordings that shouted “Free Shimmy,” “Drop the charges” and “Black joy is not a crime.”
“We want them to drop the charges. We’re going to let them know we’re not going to forget about this,” said supporter Heidi Hiland. “We’re here for the duration. So long as they keep it going, we’re going to keep it going.”
Jean-Jacques was arrested on Dec. 12 while counterprotesting at a pro-Trump demonstration in Swampscott. On video of the incident, Greenberg threw water from a plastic bottle at Jean-Jacques, who was dancing in front of her. Jean-Jacques then reached one arm toward Greenberg, before being obscured in the video by other people.
Greenberg and conservative internet personality Dianna Ploss, who organized the rally, accused Jean-Jacques of punching Greenberg, but Jean-Jacques and his lawyer maintain that he simply attempted to take the bottle away from Greenberg.
In March, Swampscott released an internal investigation of Jean-Jacques’ arrest that showed that police officers had probable cause to arrest him, but that the investigation into the incident had been flawed.
Supporters of Jean-Jacques, along with several elected officials in Swampscott, have repeatedly called for the Essex County District Attorney’s office to drop the charges against Jean-Jacques. Greenberg has not been charged with any crime.
