Emily Mosier
Staff Writer
Troy University’s Black Student Union recently partnered with Pike County to educate students of their rights and familiarize them with legal procedures.
The “Know Your Rights” seminar was held last Thursday night and featured guest speakers Pike County Attorney Ashley Mallory and her father, Capt. Samuel Mallory of the Pike County Sheriff’s department.
According to Emani Jordan, secretary of the Black Student Union and a senior exercise science major from Huntsville, Alabama, the goal of the seminar was for everyone to go home knowing how to act during police interactions.
“Due to the past events that have been happening, I feel like people of color should know their rights and what to do in situations with police officers,” Jordan said.
Capt. Mallory spoke to students about their rights during traffic stops, about what an officer can and cannot do, and local gun laws.
He also answered questions from students and encouraged them to remain calm and not run should they be stopped or questioned by police.
Ashley Mallory talked about what should happen after someone is arrested and the importance of asking for an attorney.
She briefly discussed pre-trials, drug court and what it means to be a youthful offender.
Ashley Mallory is a Troy alumni, and she decided to participate in this seminar because she wanted to give back to her community.
“I feel like the students of Troy should definitely know their basic rights when it comes to dealing with police,” Mallory said.
“I also think it is important for Troy students to see someone not too far removed from their age is here practicing and is here to help them if they have any trouble dealing with the law.”
“I decided to attend this seminar because we have seen many people killed at police stops,” said Jasper Fryer, a senior global business major from Louisville, Alabama.
“I really wanted to join to know more about my rights.”
According to Fryer, he left the seminar inspired to learn more about his rights on his own.
Feyer specifically mentioned wanting to learn more about constitutional amendments relevant to police interactions.
Ashley Mallory stressed the importance of college students being educated about the law.
“Once students graduate, they are going to go home and will have members of their community looking up to them because they went to Troy and have been educated, so they should definitely know how to interact with the police,” Mallory said.
