A rally in support of Atlantic City's mayor, schools superintendent and a school principal is set for Tuesday, the mayor announced during his radio show Saturday.
Mayor Marty Small's home was raided last week as part of a monthslong investigation into allegations involving his 16-year-old daughter, he confirmed during a press conference Monday.
Days-Chapman is accused of failing to report a student's allegations of parental abuse at home, and instead going to the parents to warn them of the allegations.
While the student was not named, it has been confirmed that the student was Smalls 16-year-old daughter. He again confirmed that during his radio show Saturday morning.
“We support you, Mandy,” Small said at the press conference. “You did absolutely nothing wrong.”
Mayor Marty Small addresses media and employees surrounded by his son, wife, daughter and attorney, Ed Jacobs.His daughter, son and wife, Superintendent LaQuetta Small, stood by his side Monday, as the mayor and his attorney addressed the raid.
Attorney Ed Jacobs insisted his clients did nothing wrong and have been cooperative throughout the investigation into what was categorized as "a family matter."
Small replayed the entire news conference Saturday, during his regularly scheduled radio show, "In the Mixx."
"I would like to thank each and every one of you many members of my listening audience, many members in the community for the love and support that you have shown my family and I, as well as Constance 'Mandy' Days-Chapman through the ordeal last week," he said before playing the entire press conference. "We are stronger than ever."
He also announced that he had "just got word" of a community rally to support the Smalls and Days-Chapman set for 5 p.m. Tuesday in front of the Civil Rights Garden at Pacific Avenue and South Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.
Small did not say who was organizing the event, but said it would include imams and other religious and community leaders, along with the NAACP and the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network, or NAN.
The group members "really want to get answers as to why is it that this Atlantic County prosecutor felt the need to raid the mayor's home like he was some kingpin or some criminal that the city of Atlantic City was afraid of," NAN Northeast Regional Director Rev. Steffie Bartley told BreakingAC. "Why they felt the need to come in with 20 officers to violate his civil rights and human rights and bring sense of fear, when we're basically dealing with a family matter."
He said they are asking for the state Attorney General's Office "to come in and bring some independent investigators to get to the bottom of this," Bartley said.
Atlantic County Prosecutor William Reynolds has not commented on the case, except to put out a statement after the press conference responding to similar allegations by the mayor.
“The men and women of this office involved in the search conducted themselves in the highest professional manner,” the statement read. “Standard operating procedures and protocols in executing residential search warrants were utilized to ensure the safety of all occupants of the residence, neighbors, and law enforcement alike.
“These procedures are put in place for safety reasons and these procedures do not deviate regardless of one’s political, professional, or social status,” it continued. “Both Mayor Small and Dr. Small were treated with dignity and respect during the entire process.”
He also noted that the raid was done after the Smalls' two children were out of the home.
Local National Action Network leader Steve Young is unlikely to attend the rally, as he has been a verbal opponent of the Smalls, claiming Dr. LaQuetta Small was why the district never publicly addressed her cousin's conviction related to the sexual abuse of a student he allegedly groomed while working at Pennsylvania Avenue School.
Dr. Small was principal of that school at the time.
"I know they have some challenges," Barley said when asked about Young's relationship with the Smalls. "I'm sure they'll get through that."
He added that "Steve Young and I have a great relationship." Bartley also made it clear that he oversees all chapters in the northeast.
