By TCR Staff
Bail modifications occurred this morning for the Lancaster Protesters arrested early in the week, including for Franklin & Marshall College Junior Kathryn (Kat) Patterson, whose bail was originally set at $1 million. Patterson’s bail was reset to $50,000 unsecured after petition by Judge Dennis Reinaker, former Lancaster County President Judge.
Patterson and Taylor Enterline, another arrested protester, whose bail has also been reduced to $50k, are under “geographical restrictions”; neither Patterson nor Enterline may be within one block of the Lancaster County police station. Patterson and Enterline were both charged with several felony counts, including arson and riot, according to charging documents.
After the original $1 million bail drew criticism from local and state-level activists and officials, the Lancaster County District Attorney’s Office released a statement addressing the bail process. “While our office did not provide input in these cases, we understand the Lancaster city police did because—according to their input to the judge—they have concerns for public safety and safety of their officers.”
Among the politicians and activists who spoke out against the original $1 million bail was Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, who referred to the high amount as “blatantly unconstitutional” in a tweet on Tuesday.
As of 11am on September 17th, there were over 1,700 donations made in support of Patterson on the gofund me created by F&M’s Black Student Union and Kappa Delta Sorority to support Patterson and her family. Currently, $53,768 of the $60,000 goal has been raised.
Update as of approximately 3:30pm September 17th, 2020.
It was reported that Kathryn Patterson and Taylor Enterline have been released after several days of being held in Lancaster County prison. Footage can be found here of both women embracing their loved ones outside of the prison upon release.
For any questions or concerns, email reporter@fandm.edu
If you have any information you’d like to share with TCR, submit an anonymous tip here.