Tika Sumpter and her mother (@tikasumpter/Instagram)
Tika Sumpter urged her followers to participate in local elections after she revealed North Carolina police arrested her mother for an overdue library book.
The “Southside With You” actress shared the update on Twitter Monday, tweeting that Johnston County officers handcuffed Janice Acquista and took her into custody because Acquista had incurred a $10 late fee for an overdue library book.
Make sure you turn in your library books North Carolina! My mom was just arrested for having a late fee of 10 dollars on an overdue book!
— Tika Sumpter (@iamtikasumpter) November 14, 2016
“An overdue book should never result in a warrant,” Sumpter continued. She called the incident a “legal scam.” Then, she tagged North Carolina’s Twitter account and Smithfield Library, where the book was allegedly not returned. Sumpter also included Gov. Pat McCrory and Attorney General Roy Cooper in the message.
An overdue book should NEVER result in a warrant. This is a legal scam. @northcarolina @SmithfieldLibra @PatMcCroryNC @RoyCooperNC
— Tika Sumpter (@iamtikasumpter) November 14, 2016
Her sister, singer Chauna Sumpter, saw the entire arrest along with her daughter. “[The North Carolina government] ought to be [ashamed].
where is the cry button? I witnessed this and so did her granddaughter. #ncgov ought to be #shamed.
— Chauna Sumpter (@ChaunaSumpter) November 15, 2016
The actress’s tweet attracted much attention from social media. Many were outraged by Acquista’s treatment.
Shikela called the situation “crazy.”
Wow this Crazy! and Sad I actually live in NC😳 https://t.co/BAOlYaVzt3
— Shaq👑 (@shikela_tyler) November 14, 2016
Ebony declared the state should take pleasure in the fact that citizens still visit the library.
It cost more to execute the warrant!!! Seriously #NC ? Be glad people are still going to the library!! https://t.co/f1qk4UmnUz
— Ebony Knowledge 👸🏾💫🧘🏾♀️👁💫 (@PsalmSelah) November 14, 2016
While NewsOne Now host Roland Martin, a vocal voting advocate, shared the absurdity of Acquista’s arrest.
.@iamtikasumpter's mom is a 60-ish retired corrections officer who has never been in trouble with the law. Until now. Over a LIBRARY BOOK.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) November 15, 2016
Sumpter later implored the public to take local elections just as seriously as presidential ones.
Presidential elections matter, but your local elections matter just as much.
— Tika Sumpter (@iamtikasumpter) November 14, 2016
She also said the cops treated her mom “like a criminal” over a late fee.
“Libraries now put out warrants,” Sumpter wrote in response to a reaction tweet.
Umm yes. Yup treated like a criminal for a late fee of 10 dollars for over due books from the library.Libraries now put out warrants. #Ncgov https://t.co/7mCEI60qdD
— Tika Sumpter (@iamtikasumpter) November 15, 2016
Finally, the star confirmed authorities ultimately released Acquista.
“Every cop at the jail thought it was absolutely ridiculous,” she added.
Yes sir. She's out now. Every cop at the jail thought it was absolutely ridiculous. They couldn't even believe it. Smh #ncgov https://t.co/MDIx06Euxp
— Tika Sumpter (@iamtikasumpter) November 15, 2016
Then, Sumpter revealed her mother actually returned the overdue book, but a librarian never recorded it in the system.
Be safe out there. What you think can't happen to you,can. P.S. My mom returned the book a while back, someone didn't put it in the system.
— Tika Sumpter (@iamtikasumpter) November 15, 2016
However, Sumpter’s call for citizens to pay attention to local elections rings true in light of North Carolina’s voter suppression mandates. Atlanta Black Star reported three justices in the state’s 4th Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously agreed that lawmakers’ 2013 voter ID law suppressed Black votes. The Court of Appeals overturned the rule, which violated both the federal constitution and the Voting Rights Act, in July.
