Rumors are flying after a bartender was arrested in Summerville, South Carolina, for allegedly conspiring in a high school group chat. The chat, which took place on Instagram, was formed in response to a planned walkout against ICE. The bartender, Dinah Chollet, was arrested for her participation, though many, including her lawyer, say the charges were wildly unfounded.
A whistleblower in the chat alerted the local police department about the protest. An officer then joined the chat anonymously. While its 80 members made anti-police and anti-ICE comments, along with remarks about the president, others demanded a peaceful protest nonetheless.
Chollet, who joined the chat with her personal account, demonstrated support for the students. She stated, “A group of us will be out there with you,” but no other details of her interactions have been released. According to police, she also shared how proud she was of the students for organizing the peaceful protest. While her additional statements have not yet been confirmed, she was charged with delinquency of a minor. Chollet was the only adult charged in the case.
Two underage youths were also charged in the case with student threats and unlawful communication. Additionally, a group of men who threatened to throw urine-filled balloons at protestors was not charged in the incident. Chollet’s lawyer was quoted as saying, “My client did not encourage anyone to break the law, commit violence, or disrupt school operations.” Martschink Law Group also added that the case would be decided based on courtroom evidence, rather than social media narratives.
Locals Rally For Justice
As videos circulate on Reddit about the case, many users are sharing their own opinions about the arrest. “I don’t understand. On what grounds was she arrested? Chatting, legal. Protesting, legal,” one user says. “We need to start keeping track of people arrested over anti-ICE activity. Even the ones who shot their mouth off online deserve to be freed,” says another.
Others encouraged direct support of Chollet and her business. “It said she was a ‘business owner.’ I looked it up, and she is the co-owner of The Knot Burger Pub in Summerville, SC. So if you’re from there and looking for somewhere to eat tonight, you now have a great place to go!” One user says.
