YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Protestors rallied outside Youngstown City Hall on Thursday morning demanding justice for Desiree Johnson and Doretha Weston.
Both women were found guilty of charges related to an altercation with Youngstown police during a traffic stop last year.
The protest comes just one day before the women are scheduled for sentencing.
"I just wish the judge could see we are going to these kind of extremes, not because we're guilty people, we really are innocent people," said Weston.
Both ladies have always maintained they were allegedly beaten by Lt. Kevin Mercer and Officer Patrick Mulligan during that traffic stop.
They believe it was an act of retaliation after Johnson filed an internal affairs complaint against those same officers for allegedly pulling a gun on her 12 year-old son.
The women then filed another complaint after being pulled over.
The Internal Affairs division of the Youngstown Police Department found no merit to the women's complaints. A spokesman in that department said there was no evidence to support the claims.
"Dana Lanz said that's what Kevin Mercer do," said Johnson. "He gets even, he retaliates, and that's what he did to me."
Dana Lanz is the Youngstown City Prosecutor who has also filed a complaint against Lt. Mercer. In 2011 she said Mercer became loud and challenging during a disagreement in court. Mercer was given a letter of reprimand.
"The message is for Mayor Sammarone. He needs to clean up his house. How can you clean up the streets when you still have these bad cops out here, beating people up, doing what they want to do?"Johnson asked.
21 News made several attempts through the police department to reach Lt. Mercer and Officer Mulligan. Neither was available for comment.
Protestors say they plan to be in front of the courthouse Friday when both women are sentenced.
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