Local nonprofit hosts rally in #JusticeForShanquella
An upcoming rally is planned to keep attention on one Charlotte woman’s story.
A local nonprofit will host a rally in search of answers in the death of Shanquella Robinson, a Charlotte woman who died under mysterious circumstances while vacationing in Mexico.
Million Youth March of Charlotte and Salisbury, a teen advocacy group that addresses community violence, has organized a peaceful demonstration on Dec.10 at Little Rock AME Zion Church at 401 E. McDowell Street. The indoor rally will start at 4 p.m.
Mario Black, who serves as director of the organization, said he has been working with Robinson’s family to organize the rally in attempts to “keep her story alive”.
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“The Charlotte community hasn’t forgotten,” he told QCity Metro.
“We’re gonna continue to stand with them until justice has served.”
People who attend are encouraged to bring signs with the words, “Justice for Shanquella.”
Black is no stranger to community organization. He organized his first rally in 2016, following the death of Keith Lamont Scott, a Charlotte man who was shot dead by a CMPD officer.
After the officer received no charges, some people resorted to violent protests in Charlotte, but Black wanted to go a different route and hosted a peaceful demonstration.
Though Robinson’s case is different, Black says that the way the community has come together in pursuit of answers, in his opinion, is reminiscent of the 2016 efforts.
“On the day of her service, hundreds of people didn’t get in, but they were there and stood in line for hours to show their support,” he said.
Black has invited a number of local community leaders and activists to the rally. Civil rights activist Rev. Al Sharpton has also received an invitation to attend, he said.
He said the FBI seems “relaxed” when it comes to Robinson’s case, but hopes the rally will dial up a sense of urgency in work on the case.
What’s known about the case
In interviews with multiple news outlets, Robinson’s parents have said others on the trip initially blamed their daughter’s death on alcohol poisoning. An autopsy report later listed the cause of death as “severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation,” or instability of the upper vertebrae.
On Nov. 16, a video that has since gone viral surfaced on social media showing a person attacking who appears to be Robinson.
At this time, QCity Metro is unable to verify when or where the video in question was recorded or how it was released.
To date, the authorities have not confirmed whether any fatal injuries resulted from the incident shown on video.
The mystery regarding her death has led to the public’s request for answers.
Since then, the FBI and Mexican authorities announced that they were both investigating Robinson’s death.
On Nov.25, a Mexican prosecutor told ABC News that an arrest warrant was issued by Mexican authorities for one of Robinson’s friends. The name of the suspect has not been released but the prosecutor described the person as “the direct aggressor” in events that led to her death, ABC News and WSOC reported.
Despite reports, Shanquella Robinson’s mother, Salamondra Robinson, told the UK’s Independent on Thursday that she hasn’t received any updates from the FBI regarding an arrest being made.
“I’m just trying to wait for somebody to be arrested. The FBI is not telling anything,”she said.
The FBI told QCity Metro the investigation is ongoing but did not confirm whether any arrests or extraditions have been made.