Biography
Facebook flyer that incited the May 31 2020 Champaign mall riot; federal Anti-Riot Act. Sentence: 48 months federal prison. Verified via public court/press records: https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdil/pr/champaign-man-sentenced-inciting-riot
Shamar N. Betts was a young man from Champaign, Illinois who at age 19 made a post on Facebook calling for a protest in his town in response to the murder of George Floyd. Though not a community organizer Betts found hundreds of people turning up in response to his call of community resistance and during the protest a number of businesses were looted. Despite Betts having committed none of the property damage himself he was arrested and charged with inciting a riot. Unable to get bail Betts stayed in jail and on august 19, 2021, was sentenced to four years in federal prison.
