Mendon “John John” Price in court on Friday
photo by Claire Henley
Mendon “John John” Price, the man labeled as “the number one enemy downtown,” was appointed a public defender by Hamilton County Sessions Court Judge Gary Starnes on Friday.
The Chattanooga Visitors Bureau labeled Price, who is restricted to a wheelchair due to the loss of one leg, as the number one enemy downtown. Price was arrested last Thursday evening outside the Tivoli Theatre on the charge of aggressive panhandling.
Friday morning served as his first appearance in court. The Mercy Junction Justice and Peace Center – a ministry of the Presbyterian of East Tennessee – condemned the arrest, which the center stated was a “criminalization of poverty.” The center also condemned Price’s label as an “enemy.”
“We know Mr. Price, who we call John John. We know him as a gentle, respectful and kind person,” Mercy Junction said in a recent statement.
Mercy Junction wants the officials responsible for Price’s arrest to apologize to him and dismiss the charges against him. They rallied a group of supporters who showed up Friday morning and sat with Price in the courtroom before he went before Judge Starnes.
Judge Starnes said Price would not be taken into custody. He appointed a public defender for the defendant and said Price was entitled to his hearing scheduled for Feb. 4 at 8:30 a.m.
When the judge dismissed Price, one of the supporters wheeled him out of the courtroom.
“Thank you for your moral support. Thank you for your moral support,” Price said to everyone he passed.