Likewise, Niya Kenny, the 18-year-old who bravely stood up and decried Ben Fields’s violence, also does not deserve a criminal record. Instead, Ben Fields should be facing criminal charges for abuse under the color of authority at the very least.
We are demanding that the prosecutor drop all charges against the two students and expunge their arrest records.
Black girls are disproportionately impacted by discriminatory, disciplinary practices; so much so that recent studies have shown that black girls are among the fastest growing juvenile justice population and suspended six times the rate of their white counterparts. The violent, criminalization of black girls at Spring Valley High School is a disturbing example of how the school-to-prison pipeline that must halted immediately.
For further direct action here are the email addresses of persons who should hear of your concern and interest in halting the brutalization of our children.
Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott ( sheriff@rcsd.net) or call (803) 576-3000
Principal Jeff Temoney jtemoney@richland2.org
Superintendent Debra Hamm dhamm@richland2.org
School District Board Members: