MEMPHIS, Tenn. — They are called #Team T-Street: Tremaine Wilbourn’s family said new T-shirts get their message across.
One of the kid-size shirts says, “Y’all so quick to say my uncle was wrong…when you never stop to listen to his side of the story. All we want is a fair trial.”
Wilbourn’s grandmother, Sandra Richardson, said that’s really what they want.
“Keep Tremaine and others in your prayers,” she said. “That’s all I need from them. I don’t need nothing else on a T-shirt.”
She said she prefers this T-shirt to another one that is going around with the print “I Am Not a Coward,” which is what Wilbourn told Memphis Police Director Toney Armstrong when he was caught after allegedly shooting and killing MPD Officer Sean Bolton.
“You don’t need nothing else on no T-shirt to make a statement,” Richardson said. “You don’t need that drama. That’s drama to me.”
The T-shirt turmoil comes as Wilbourn made his latest appearance in court Wednesday morning to face charges of killing Bolton more than a week ago.
His appearance was a short one after he told the judge that he could not afford an attorney. He will be appointed a public defender and be back in court in a week.
Richardson said there is no money to pay for a lawyer.
“I can’t afford no attorney,” she said. “He got to do what he got to do. Go with a public defender.”
She said Wilbourn would tell those who have put effort behind the “I Am Not a Coward” T-shirts to use their time and money in another way.
“If you can do anything, get me a lawyer,” Richardson said. “Spend the money on a lawyer. Come together and spend the money on a lawyer.”
Wilbourn supporters have also reportedly started a GoFundMe account to pay for a lawyer.