Earlier this week, Amber Guyger was sentenced to 10 years in prison for the fatal shooting of Botham Jean inside his Dallas apartment. Following her sentencing, State District Judge Tammy Kemp went the extra mile to console Guyger.
According to CBS, Kemp gave Guyger a bible, hugged her and prayer with the former police officer. As a result, The Freedom of Religion Foundation has filed a formal complaint. “We write to raise your awareness of Judge Kemp’s actions at the close of the trial — during which she gifted a Christian bible, instructing the convicted criminal on how to read the bible and which passages to pay attention to, and witnessing to that convicted murderer. These proselytizing actions overstepped judicial authority, were inappropriate and were unconstitutional,” the complaint states.
Following the viral video, many shared their thoughts on Kemp’s behavior. “When a Black bailiff combs Amber Guyger’s hair, Black judge hugs her, and the victim’s Black brother declares forgiveness, it satisfies the demand that Blacks suffer phlegmatically so our pain neither offends sensibilities nor sparks their guilt or fragility. Disgusting,” one user wrote.
Another added, “Amber Guyger is a racist convicted murderer. Why does she get a sweet, caring hug from the judge? Because she was a cop? Because she’s a white woman (which means she deserves sympathy)? Name the last Black man you saw hugged by the judge after a murder conviction.”
Although the situation is upsetting for many, Jean’s brother, Brandt Jean, surprisingly offered his forgiveness to the former Dallas policewoman. “I forgive you. Go to God… I don’t even want you to go to jail because that’s what Botham would want,” Brandt said to Guyger.
In the courtroom, Guyger stated that she is regretful of her actions. “I hate that I have to live with this every single day of my life,” Guyger said. “I ask God for forgiveness, and I hate myself every single day. I wish he was the one with the gun who had killed me. I never wanted to take an innocent person’s life.”