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https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2020/09/08/black-student-suspended-police-toy-gun/?amp=1
Dani Elliott was at work last month in Colorado Springs when her 12-year-old sonâs vice principal called with alarming news: A police officer was on the way to her house â all because her son had played with a toy gun during his virtual art class.
Elliott says she was terrified, especially considering her son is Black.
âI never thought: âYou canât play with a Nerf gun in your own home because somebody may perceive it as a threat and call the police on you,ââ Elliott said.
Elliottâs son, Isaiah, was later suspended for five days and now has a record with the El Paso County Sheriffâs Office and a mark on his school disciplinary paperwork saying he brought a âfacsimile of a firearm to schoolâ â even though he was in his own home doing a virtual class. The âgunâ was obviously a toy, painted black and green with âZombie Hunterâ on the side.
Elliott lashed out at the school, arguing that it was irresponsible to call police given the frequency of police violence against Black people.
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Elliott said she thinks the school doesnât understand the possible consequences.
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The other boy was a classmate who was studying at Elliottâs house at the time; deputies later visited his home as well, according to the police report. KDVR reported that the boy is believed to have also received a five-day suspension.
When officers arrived at Elliottâs home, her husband, Curtis, let them in. They explained to Isaiah that if he brought a toy gun to school, they could file criminal charges.
But when Isaiahâs father viewed body camera footage of the tape from his sonâs class, he said it only showed Isaiah sitting on the couch, moving the green toy gun from one side to the other â not waving it as the teacher alleged.
Over the following few days, Elliott and her husband spoke with the schoolâs principal and vice principal, as well as a district superintendent. They would not budge on Isaiahâs suspension and disciplinary record.
âI said: âBlack children cannot have that sort of thing on their record. You are reducing his chances at success,ââ Elliott said she told school administrators.
She also questioned why the school called the police before notifying her and her husband. Elliott said that the vice principal said their sonâs safety was the schoolâs top priority. But Elliott argued that calling the police actually put Isaiahâs life at risk, noting that he is the same age as Tamir Rice, who was shot and killed in 2014 by police in Cleveland while holding a BB gun.
Isaiah was traumatized by the experience, she said. âHe was in tears when the police came,â Elliott said. âHe was very scared. He said: âMommy, I had butterflies in my stomach. I was scared and thought I was going to jail.ââ
A Black seventh-grader played with a toy gun during a virtual class. His school called the police.
(Please Note: This uploaded content is no longer available.)Dani Elliott was at work last month in Colorado Springs when her 12-year-old sonâs vice principal called with alarming news: A police officer was on the way to her house â all because her son had played with a toy gun during his virtual art class.
Elliott says she was terrified, especially considering her son is Black.
âI never thought: âYou canât play with a Nerf gun in your own home because somebody may perceive it as a threat and call the police on you,ââ Elliott said.
Elliottâs son, Isaiah, was later suspended for five days and now has a record with the El Paso County Sheriffâs Office and a mark on his school disciplinary paperwork saying he brought a âfacsimile of a firearm to schoolâ â even though he was in his own home doing a virtual class. The âgunâ was obviously a toy, painted black and green with âZombie Hunterâ on the side.
Elliott lashed out at the school, arguing that it was irresponsible to call police given the frequency of police violence against Black people.
[âŚ]
Elliott said she thinks the school doesnât understand the possible consequences.
[âŚ]
The other boy was a classmate who was studying at Elliottâs house at the time; deputies later visited his home as well, according to the police report. KDVR reported that the boy is believed to have also received a five-day suspension.
When officers arrived at Elliottâs home, her husband, Curtis, let them in. They explained to Isaiah that if he brought a toy gun to school, they could file criminal charges.
But when Isaiahâs father viewed body camera footage of the tape from his sonâs class, he said it only showed Isaiah sitting on the couch, moving the green toy gun from one side to the other â not waving it as the teacher alleged.
Over the following few days, Elliott and her husband spoke with the schoolâs principal and vice principal, as well as a district superintendent. They would not budge on Isaiahâs suspension and disciplinary record.
âI said: âBlack children cannot have that sort of thing on their record. You are reducing his chances at success,ââ Elliott said she told school administrators.
She also questioned why the school called the police before notifying her and her husband. Elliott said that the vice principal said their sonâs safety was the schoolâs top priority. But Elliott argued that calling the police actually put Isaiahâs life at risk, noting that he is the same age as Tamir Rice, who was shot and killed in 2014 by police in Cleveland while holding a BB gun.
Isaiah was traumatized by the experience, she said. âHe was in tears when the police came,â Elliott said. âHe was very scared. He said: âMommy, I had butterflies in my stomach. I was scared and thought I was going to jail.ââ