JUDGE SONYA M. MCKNIGHT, first and only African American female elected to Magisterial District 12-2-04, Harrisburg, PA and mother of three sons, is the target of unprecedented and unwarranted attacks to remove her from office because she went to ensure her son’s safety during a late night traffic stop.  She must remain on the bench!

Judge McKnight has the right to be a mother concerned with the welfare of her African American son at a traffic stop, without having her judgeship jeopardized. Judge McKnight is a woman of integrity, virtue, honor, fairness, and love. Her ability to continue sitting on the bench as the Magisterial District Judge of 12-2-04, where she has served her community and the court without reproach for the last four years is at stake

The Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office and the Judicial Conduct Board are treating Judge McKnight as guilty before hearing by suspending her from the bench without pay for alleged, unproven criminal activity.  Those sworn to protect her as a mother and private citizen when her son called her to the traffic stop on February 2020 are now accusing Judge McKnight harshly.   We know all too well the national climate of black men (people) being detained and killed over simple traffic stops.  (The reporting can be found on PennLive.)  

Judge McKnight is vigorously fighting these unfounded allegations. We, the Community, cannot allow her to fight this vile political battle alone. Her unmatched representation must not be unjustly removed.  Please join us and countless others in support of her.

We demand that (1) Attorney General Josh Shapiro drop all charges against Judge Sonya McKnight immediately, (2) the Judicial Conduct Board reinstate Judge McKnight’s pay and status on the bench and she be treated as innocent until proven otherwise, (3) Judge McKnight be treated fairly like all other citizens who hold elected offices and have the privilege of parenting, and (4) we demand that Judge Sonya M. McKnight be given the protection of service that would be granted to her Caucasian peers.  Lastly, (5) we demand that the Mayor of the City of Harrisburg Eric R. Papenfuse and Chief Carter of the Harrisburg Police Department release the video tapes that they allege prove their unjust and unsupported allegations. 

The castigation of her as a government official and the systemic suppression that holds African Americans to other “standards” must cease. Please stand with us as we fight for the honorable Sonya M. McKnight and demand justice.  

Standing today starts with signing the petition and getting your friends to do the same:

Until justice is a reality, the knee is still on our necks!

Floyd Stokes and the Greater Harrisburg Community