A Black woman is speaking out after she was arrested for chanting in public while burning incense.
The incident took place in Headland, Alabama, during its annual Christmas Christmas parade on Thursday.
While celebrating, Kimberly Griggs was arrested as her ritual stood out from the crowd.
“Going around burning incense, doing loud chanting,” Chief Of Police for Headland, Mark Jones told WDHN. “Then they went around and put the incense in people’s faces. Patrons on the square were trying to enjoy the activities going on and she was harassing them by burning the incense in their faces.”
However, Griggs says she is being discriminated against.
“I was arrested by what you call it: disorderly conduct, I call it the holy spirit,” Griggs told the local news outlet. “I can’t say I did this because it was out of my control. When the holy ghost comes into you, you can not control that. That was natural.”
The police chief insisted Griggs’ behavior was scaring members of the crowd and went as far as to accuse her of exhibiting “threatening” behavior.
“There was some threatening there from them,” Chief Jones said. “And it just became a safety hazard for the people on the square.”
Griggs’ behavior was dismissed as an “abnormality.” She was charged with disorderly conduct and has since posted a bond. The chief confirmed her bond was set at $500.
“The public wasn’t in danger. If I wanted to attack you I would have attacked you,” said Griggs. “I spoke to no one, but walked around talking to myself.”
