Screenshot: Okayybriaa via TikTok (fair use)
A video has gone viral of a black college student being arrested inside a classroom. According to NBC News, the incident occurred at Winston-Salem State University. In the TikTok video, the student and her classmates are shocked with anger and confusion, demanding that her instructor answer why they called the police.
The student, identified as Leila in the video’s caption, is seen pinned to a desk by two campus police officers while her classmates film. Leila is seen with tears rolling down her face and demanding to know if the handcuffs were a necessary solution to the earlier conflict. According to the report, the professor had a heated exchange with Leila after she refused to redo parts of her project before submitting it.
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“Are you going to get me out of here because I don’t apologize? You started yelling at me. You tried to shame me for my job. You are a terrible teacher,” Leila yelled at the teacher.
Other students joined in condemning the teacher, whom the school identified as Cynthia Villagomez. However, Villagómez did not ask for reinforcements. A school employee who heard the commotion reported the incident to campus police, taking this exchange to a whole new level.
Watch the video via Twitter:
In another video, Leila is seen standing in the corridor with the police explaining that they told her: “either you apologize or we will take you out in handcuffs”. Since when is her refusal to apologize worthy of arrest? Leila also said that she was never informed of any charges before her arrest. Somehow, she said that she faces two charges (which she didn’t specify) and was threatened with being sent to county jail.
Many college students can attest to having had a fight with a disrespectful professor. However, involving the police in a situation with a black student seems more like an abuse of privilege and power than trying to de-escalate a simple argument. According to Leila and her classmates, he did not represent a threat, but she felt threatened.
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Read Chancellor Elwood Robinson’s response:
As many of you know, there was an incident this morning involving a student and a faculty member that escalated on social media. We now have more information about the event and want to share key information with our campus community.
Regarding the incident, the university has a process that we must follow when there is a reported disturbance anywhere on campus. We received a report that there was significant commotion at Carolina Hall this morning, and as such, a nearby WSSU employee requested the assistance of law enforcement after they attempted to de-escalate the situation.
We understand that police weaponization is a frequent problem in our community; however, that is not what happened in this incident. We strive for a knowledgeable, thriving, inclusive, and safe community where all of our faculty, staff, and students feel respected and supported. To do this, we will take the appropriate and opportune measures in the face of any situation that contradicts those ideals.
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Source: news.google.com