Willie Green, a native of Athens, grew up living with his parents in Pauldoe, a marginalized neighborhood in our community. Green has said that he grew up with a “village mentality” and remembers going to his friends’ homes, where he always felt welcome and like everyone was family.
He played for the Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, spending a total of nine years in the NFL and winning two Super Bowls. His parents were civic leaders in Athens, and since his football days, he has been involved in politics, civic advocacy and social change. Today, he is the founder of Athens Sports Arena, and he purchased this facility to empower the youth, especially those who have lived in poverty, by creating “a village” through the sports arena.
Unfortunately, since opening this establishment, Green has experienced harassment and was wrongfully arrested by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. In less than a year, ACCPD officers went to Green’s place of business multiple times and issued multiple citations for noise violations.
It is fair to bring up that the previous owner, who ran a business at this same location around 2009, never received any citations. It is also important to share that when Green purchased the business, he was under the impression he could conduct normal business there, and each time the ACCPD went to Athens Sports Arena to address “noise violations,” Green was compliant.
On May 13, the day of Green’s arrest, he stood up for himself by trying to explain to police officers that he had a right to run his business. Strangely, he was charged with obstruction for not providing his ID. It is important to note that on this occasion, ACCPD officers did, at the request of Green as he was being arrested, retrieve his wallet, which contained his ID. In addition, Green believes the officers knew exactly who he was upon arrival at the establishment, because they had come out several times previously.
It’s also fair to point out that on the body camera footage, an ACCPD officer going through Green’s wallet containing his ID makes a comment to Green that he sees Green “is an honorary deputy… not even a real deputy.” That unnecessary and completely irrelevant statement, shows an abuse of power, and certainly was not intended to de-escalate the situation.
The charges were eventually dropped, but this incident has compromised Green’s reputation and his business since ACCPD began targeting his establishment. The citations resulted in Green hiring an attorney, forcing him to take time away from his family and business, and to add to all of that, subsequently his customers.
Since Green’s arrest, some inquiries have been made into the complainant who was making the noise disturbance calls to ACCPD. We were able to retrieve some body cam footage, and in this video, the officer says he can hear “bass,” but tells the complainant that the noise was not coming from Athens Arena, and he doesn’t know where it’s coming from.
Athens Sports Arena is an event space in an industrial area. Green was legally allowed to conduct his business there. Yet officers continued to cite Green and eventually arrested him.
On May 17, Green filed a complaint against Officer Jonathan Surine and Sgt. Carl Mitcham. On June 9, Solicitor General Will Fleenor notified ACCPD that he was aware of zoning records indicating that the single-family residential neighborhoods nearby were actually zoned commercial, not residential. Fleenor then urged ACCPD to discontinue issuing citations to Green under the noise ordinance.
“Regarding the complaint filed by Mr. Green, he has retained an attorney, and we are not allowed to comment during this process,” ACCPD Chief Jerry Saulters said in a statement. “I think a lot of Mr. Green and the things he is doing in the community.”
Green had not engaged in any criminal activity, and should not have been arrested in the first place. So we must ask, who holds law enforcement accountable when they’ve violated someone’s right? Community members successfully advocated for the Athens Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board to be established to help address these issues. However, we’re still waiting for this board to become fully operational.
Green and the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement are demanding justice. Green deserves answers and a letter of apology for being wrongfully arrested. He is asking for community support to help hold law enforcement officers accountable. He doesn’t want this to happen to someone else who’s simply trying to serve their community.
To help support Willie Green, reach out to the AADM to help us advocate for justice. For more information on how to support Mr. Green, email [email protected] or [email protected], or visit aadmovement.org/justiceforwilliegreen.
Mokah Jasmine Johnson is cofounder of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement.
Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.
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AADM: Police Mistreated Black Athens Business Owner Willie Green
Willie Green, a native of Athens, grew up living with his parents in Pauldoe, a marginalized neighborhood in our community. Green has said that he grew up with a “village mentality” and remembers going to his friends’ homes, where he always felt welcome and like everyone was family.
He played for the Detroit Lions, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Carolina Panthers, spending a total of nine years in the NFL and winning two Super Bowls. His parents were civic leaders in Athens, and since his football days, he has been involved in politics, civic advocacy and social change. Today, he is the founder of Athens Sports Arena, and he purchased this facility to empower the youth, especially those who have lived in poverty, by creating “a village” through the sports arena.
Unfortunately, since opening this establishment, Green has experienced harassment and was wrongfully arrested by the Athens-Clarke County Police Department. In less than a year, ACCPD officers went to Green’s place of business multiple times and issued multiple citations for noise violations.
It is fair to bring up that the previous owner, who ran a business at this same location around 2009, never received any citations. It is also important to share that when Green purchased the business, he was under the impression he could conduct normal business there, and each time the ACCPD went to Athens Sports Arena to address “noise violations,” Green was compliant.
On May 13, the day of Green’s arrest, he stood up for himself by trying to explain to police officers that he had a right to run his business. Strangely, he was charged with obstruction for not providing his ID. It is important to note that on this occasion, ACCPD officers did, at the request of Green as he was being arrested, retrieve his wallet, which contained his ID. In addition, Green believes the officers knew exactly who he was upon arrival at the establishment, because they had come out several times previously.
It’s also fair to point out that on the body camera footage, an ACCPD officer going through Green’s wallet containing his ID makes a comment to Green that he sees Green “is an honorary deputy… not even a real deputy.” That unnecessary and completely irrelevant statement, shows an abuse of power, and certainly was not intended to de-escalate the situation.
The charges were eventually dropped, but this incident has compromised Green’s reputation and his business since ACCPD began targeting his establishment. The citations resulted in Green hiring an attorney, forcing him to take time away from his family and business, and to add to all of that, subsequently his customers.
Since Green’s arrest, some inquiries have been made into the complainant who was making the noise disturbance calls to ACCPD. We were able to retrieve some body cam footage, and in this video, the officer says he can hear “bass,” but tells the complainant that the noise was not coming from Athens Arena, and he doesn’t know where it’s coming from.
Athens Sports Arena is an event space in an industrial area. Green was legally allowed to conduct his business there. Yet officers continued to cite Green and eventually arrested him.
On May 17, Green filed a complaint against Officer Jonathan Surine and Sgt. Carl Mitcham. On June 9, Solicitor General Will Fleenor notified ACCPD that he was aware of zoning records indicating that the single-family residential neighborhoods nearby were actually zoned commercial, not residential. Fleenor then urged ACCPD to discontinue issuing citations to Green under the noise ordinance.
“Regarding the complaint filed by Mr. Green, he has retained an attorney, and we are not allowed to comment during this process,” ACCPD Chief Jerry Saulters said in a statement. “I think a lot of Mr. Green and the things he is doing in the community.”
Green had not engaged in any criminal activity, and should not have been arrested in the first place. So we must ask, who holds law enforcement accountable when they’ve violated someone’s right? Community members successfully advocated for the Athens Public Safety Civilian Oversight Board to be established to help address these issues. However, we’re still waiting for this board to become fully operational.
Green and the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement are demanding justice. Green deserves answers and a letter of apology for being wrongfully arrested. He is asking for community support to help hold law enforcement officers accountable. He doesn’t want this to happen to someone else who’s simply trying to serve their community.
To help support Willie Green, reach out to the AADM to help us advocate for justice. For more information on how to support Mr. Green, email [email protected] or [email protected], or visit aadmovement.org/justiceforwilliegreen.
Mokah Jasmine Johnson is cofounder of the Athens Anti-Discrimination Movement.
Like what you just read? Support Flagpole by making a donation today. Every dollar you give helps fund our ongoing mission to provide Athens with quality, independent journalism.
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