Rally Supports Victim Of Brainerd Assault

BRAINERD (AP) — Dozens of people have turned out to support a Brainerd man who allegedly was the victim of a racially motivated attack.

Tuesday's rally brought out more than 40 people to the Crow Wing County Judicial Center in support of 53-year-old Willie Navy. It coincided with court appearances for the two men accused of beating Navy.

Navy was beaten early on Feb. 6 in downtown Brainerd. He and the two defendants had earlier been at a bar.

According to criminal complaints, a bar employee told police that 27-year-old Lucas Eastwood of Backus wanted to fight Navy in the bar because Navy is black.

Eastwood is charged with assault and kidnapping. Twenty-nine-year-old Travis Campbell of Pequot Lakes is charged with assault.

Neither defendant spoke during their hearings. Both men remain in jail.