By Celeste Springer | KRDO
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) – It’s been six months since three people were indicted after allegedly staging a hate crime to help a Black Colorado Springs candidate, Mayor Yemi Mobolade, win an election.
On Friday, a judge denied a motion to dismiss, signalling that the case will move forward and ultimately be heard by a jury.
In April 2023, just before the Colorado Springs mayoral election, video of a burning cross in front of then-candidate Yemi Mobolade’s campaign sign was sent to media outlets. The sign had also been painted with the “n-word.”
The event was thought to be a racially motivated attack on Mobolade, who was a Black candidate running against a white opponent.
According to court records, investigators believe Derrick Bernard Jr., Ashley Blackcloud, and Deanna West staged the cross burning to invigorate sympathetic voters and swing the election in Mobolade’s favor.