Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – A rally Thursday afternoon in the Capitol Rotunda in Springfield was meant to deliver a message to a state appeals court – you did the wrong thing – and another one to the Illinois Supreme Court – do the right thing.

The day before Thanksgiving, a three-judge appeals panel ruled that former Sangamon County sheriff’s deputy Sean Grayson needs the opportunity to get out of jail pending his murder trial for the death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who had called 9-1-1 to bring deputies to her Springfield home.

Local judge Ryan Cadigan cited the pretrial fairness portion of the state’s Safe-T Act in locking Grayson up. Massey’s father, James Wilburn (pictured), told the ralliers the appeals court has it all wrong: “I think the Safe-T Act was enacted to keep low-level prisoners, who could not afford a bond that was set, to allow them to get out,” Wilburn said. “This guy has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder. This is a complete bastardization of it!”

“Right now, I think everybody needs to lean on the Supreme Court and say, hey, you guys need to step in in these next 35 days. That’s what this is about,” said Calvin Christian, a member of Sangamon County’s Massey Commission. “The Illinois Supreme Court, step in. Step in now. Don’t let it wait. Step. In. Now!”

Grayson’s next court appearance is Jan. 2, and the Supreme Court’s decision is expected by then.