Protester arrested on outstanding warrant during rally at Justice Center

CLEVELAND - While her supporters chanted "let her go," Kathy Wray Coleman -- who organized a rally Wednesday for the victims of Imperial Avenue -- was led away in handcuffs.

The rally was held outside the Justice Center in downtown Cleveland while jury selection continued in the Anthony Sowell murder trial.

Bailiffs from Cleveland Municipal Court arrested Coleman for an outstanding warrant during the rally.

The rally started with Coleman demanding police keep their promise to always look into reports of violence against women thoroughly. Some relatives of the Imperial Avenue victims complained their missing person reports were ignored.

City Council members Kevin Conwell and Maime Mitchell stood side-by-side with Coleman during the rally Wednesday. Turns out, in May 2009 Coleman was found guilty by a jury of resisting arrest.

Coleman asked to delay sentencing, then never showed up for sentencing last month.

So Wednesday, during the rally on the steps of the Justice Center, bailiffs showed up with a warrant and arrested her for failure to appear for sentencing.

"Well I was shocked that Kathy was arrested, it was like something out of a movie. Here we are at a protest to end violence against women," said Cleveland City Council Member Maime Mitchell.

Those who attended the rally even argued with each other about Coleman’s arrest. Some said Coleman should have never held a protest on the steps of the Justice Center with an outstanding warrant. Others said the city was just trying to shut down her protest because she has repeatedly criticized city officials and police.

A spokesperson for Cleveland Municipal Court said Coleman will remain in jail until Monday before seeing a judge, because there’s no bond for people who skip court.