Public outrage is growing after a fight in a middle school classroom in Colton left a girl unconscious, an incident captured on video that has sparked accusations of racial bias.
According to the Colton Police Department, the fight occurred Monday morning at Jehue Middle School, 1500 N. Eucalyptus Ave.
In the video, a much larger Latino boy is grappling with a smaller Black girl when she grabs a laptop off a desk and slings it at his head. The boy then slams the girl’s head into the desk, knocking her unconscious and drawing gasps from the other students.
Police said both students are 14 years old, and they were issued citations and released to their parents.
Many, however, say that’s not enough. The California Legislative Black Caucus issued a statement describing the incident as a “brutal assault of a young Black student” and demanding a “full investigation” and “accountability.” The unedited video included several audible racial slurs.
“All students, especially our young Black girls, deserve to be safe, valued, and protected while they are on our school campuses,” the statement said.
While some, including activist Najee Ali, believe the boy should be expelled and the girl cleared of any wrongdoing, police reportedly believe the girl instigated the incident.
“The Colton Police Department stated that the girl was cited for assault with a deadly weapon after allegedly hitting the boy multiple times in the head with a metal hydro flask before the recorded video began,” news radio station KFI reports. “The boy, on the other hand, was cited for battery, not for the incident in the video, but for earlier horseplay with a water pistol.”
Colton Police Sgt. Mike Sandoval told the San Bernardino Sun that the girl faces a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon, and the boy was charged with misdemeanor battery. Both also were suspended from school and face possible expulsion.
As for the motivation behind the fight, Sandoval said it does not appear to be racial in nature.
“There’s no indication of that at all,” Sandoval told the Sun.
It’s unclear what actions, if any, were taken by adults during the leadup to and immediately after the incident.
School officials say a substitute teacher was in charge of that classroom, and a call was made to school safety officers.
Investigations into the incident are ongoing, the Rialto Unified School District said in a statement.
“The District does not condone the violent actions of the students and does not tolerate hate speech on any of its campuses,” the statement said.
