In late May 2020, as protests spread across the country after the death of George Floyd, a peaceful gathering in Spartanburg escalated into arrests after the city announced a curfew with only minutes’ notice. According to reporting by the Spartanburg Herald-Journal, a protester holding a Black Lives Matter sign was cited for unlawful assembly and disorderly conduct shortly after the curfew was declared.
How the arrest happened
The article follows Tyquian English, a Moore resident who said he was stunned by the sudden curfew announcement and wanted the charge dismissed to protect his reputation. The story also details how police described the situation, including warnings to disperse and the decision to begin arrests when groups did not leave the area.
Mo Abusaft’s role in the case
Attorney Monier “Mo” Abusaft, then a former president of the local NAACP chapter, represented English at no charge and argued the citation did not match the city’s ordinance definition of unlawful assembly. The reporting frames his involvement as both legal advocacy for an individual client and a larger concern about how protest rights are handled in tense moments.
Larger accountability questions
The article also highlights Abusaft’s call for stronger citizen oversight—specifically, review mechanisms with real authority to evaluate police actions and policies, especially when decisions like curfews or enforcement strategies affect constitutional rights and public trust.