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Peace Family! My husband and I, along with our 4 children, need all the help we can get to sustain housing and food, along with the added fees during this battle and difficult time.

Facts About Darante Lamar Martin's case

The past six months have been like living in the 50s for my family. On January 3rd, I was wrongfully terminated from the Calhoun Baptist Association. I was the first African-American executive level hire within the organization and the only Black Director in the organization in the organization’s 124 year history. I performed the duties of my job through constant condescending remarks, racial inquiries and constant comments concerning having a Muslim president and Black Lives Matter. Though I was an executive level hire with a Bachelor’s Degree in Social Science with a concentration in Leadership, my role was restricted to a glorified errand boy for the other two directors and I was never afforded the brain space to actually fulfill the position that I had been hired for. My pay was subject to constant carelessness and deception, which literally led to the other two directors using organizational funds that were designated for me, for themselves.

After being terminated without reason and without warning, the police were sent to my house on three different occasions to threaten me with compliance to the demands of the organization. I asked for a written letter of termination and was told that one would be provided to me. On April 4th, I spoke with the CBA secretary concerning the letter and she advised me that I could stop by the office and pick it up. When I arrived, the door was locked and I was told that I would not be receiving a letter and further berated. That day I reached out to several Calhoun Baptist Association affiliates in order to ensure that someone knew what was going on and how I was being treated. The next day an officer showed up to my house to arrest me on an initial charge of harassment.

I was arrested Tuesday April 5th and taken to the Calhoun County Jail where I was held until Wednesday night due to additional charges being added each time I bonded out. After bonding out on the initial harassment charge, a resisting arrest charge was added even though I never had to be handcuffed. The morning of the 5th I met with Chief Deputy Officer who informed my wife that he is a member of the organization behind the false charges and advised me “not to try to fight” because no laws or rights had been violated. He told me that the police have the right to take my freedom without evidence, he said that is the definition of arrest. I was hold over night, after bonding out due to a mental hold being ordered against me by a sergeant who had not met me nor reviewed my arrest. It was only after my wife made several calls of protest that my arrest tape was reviewed and the Sergeant apologized for placing the hold on me. I was supposed to be released after that, but John Thomas of the CBA was notified and added two new charges, requiring me to have to bond out for the 3rd time in less than 24 hrs and officially depleting my resources. The charges were theft of property for a cell phone that was purchased with my salary, and the other for criminal mischief.

This ordeal has been a clear attack on me as a black man who was gaining prominence in an all white organization. And now this organization is using every resource at its disposal, including the Sheriff’s Department, to shut me down “Good Ol’ Boy” style. My family and I need all the support we can get in order to ensure that they do not get away this.

Thank you and we appreciate your donations in advance.