Biography
Siwatu-Salama Ra is an environmental and racial justice activist who served as director of East Michigan Environmental Action Council (EMEAC). In 2018 Ra's mother got into a verbal altercation at their home with a friend of the family that escalated into the woman ramming Ra's car with her own while Ra's 2-year-old daughter was in the back seat. Ra then pointed an unloaded and legally-owned gun which she had a conceal carry permit for at the woman and told her to leave. Michigan is both an open carry and stand your ground state. Despite this Ra was arrested and charged with felony assault. She was convicted of this and sentenced to two years in prison. After a legal battle the conviction was overturned but prosecutors who had previously told the court that Ra was not a danger and did "not belong in prison" insisted on a retrial, forcing Ra to plead guilty to a minor misdemeanor in exchange for dismissal of the felonies.
