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Erna Stewart said she has had moments of self-doubt while planning events in support of brother-in-law Matthew David Stewart, who is charged with fatally shooting a police officer and wounding five others during a January raid on his home.

She said she wanted to be sure a rally was in line with what her brother-in-law, who is being held at the Weber County Jail, would want. So she sent him a letter.

"He told me, 'Stand up for your rights,' " she said Friday. "Start by whispering, and if they can't hear you, speak louder."

Erna Stewart spoke out loudly, along with about 25 others, during a rally in Ogden Friday, asking for a stop on police raids in private homes, and a stop to the so-called "war on drugs."

"This is not a war on drugs, it's a war on personal freedom," the woman said through a megaphone Friday morning to cheers of the small crowd. "We are using our peace officers as pawns in a war that should have never been started."

As part of their rally, which began at a park on 25th Street and ended in front of the Weber County Attorney's Office, seven supporters, including Erna Stewart and Matthew's brother Nathan Stewart, delivered a formal records request to the attorney's office for information about previous home raids. She said they hope to use the information to educate themselves and the community about police tactics used during home raids.

Not everyone who showed up for the event was in support of Matthew Stewart. Kevin Burrell, father of Kasey Burrell, one of the six officers shot during the raid, said he came to support the police. He said the officers are just trying to do their jobs.

"All they are doing is glorifying [Matthew Stewart] and his actions," he said during the rally.

Several of the supporters who were at the gathering said they worked with Matthew Stewart and his family members at Walmart. They described him as a caring, non-violent man who is very kind. Rhiannon Macbain said she couldn't believe that the man could kill anyone, and said that police tactics have always been frightening to her after a run-in with the law several years ago.

"We're scared," she said, while holding a sign that declared Matthew was also a victim, and to stop the violence. "There's too much fear."

Ogden police Officer Jared Francom was killed during the January raid at Stewart's home that erupted into gunfire. Five other officers were also injured.

The officers were serving a search warrant at the home. Prosecutors have said Stewart was hiding when he emerged from his hiding place and fired a 9mm Beretta at the officers. But Stewart, 37, has claimed he thought a group of men had broken into his home to rob and murder him.

Stewart, who also was wounded, has been charged with aggravated murder and eight other felony counts related to the shooting and marijuana cultivation.jmiller@sltrib.com