Aramis Ayala’s traffic stop resurfaces in public memory not for its drama, but for the trajectory it foreshadowed. Now Executive Director of Fair and Just Prosecution, Ayala leads a national network of elected prosecutors defending their independence against state and federal overrides.
Orlando police officers pulled her over on June 19, 2017, shortly after 8 p.m. The state attorney for Florida’s Ninth Judicial Circuit had just finished teaching a class at Florida A&M University College of Law in the Parramore neighborhood.
Ayala has stated she violated no laws during the stop. She confirmed her license plate was properly registered and her window tint met Florida legal standards. The video generated significant public discussion about policing practices and the recognition of authority during traffic stops…