Viola Neve

edwardspoonhands:

laurennmcc:

fuckyeahfeminists:

This is what the school-to-prison pipeline looks like. This is how black youth are criminalized.

1. She was doing a science experiment
2. She’s being charged as an ADULT
3. She’s being charged with a FELONY

If this all goes the way the prosecution wants, this young woman will be LEGALLY discriminated against for the rest of her life. No voting, housing discrimination,  employment discrimination (as if getting a job while black isn’t hard enough), etc. etc.

Perhaps instead of fighting about who is tougher, Batman or Iron Man, we could spend a little internet rage making sure this young scientist doesn’t go to prison?

From the comments section:

“To everyone commenting on this thread that is outraged by this chain of events: I am just as outraged as you. But it is not enough for us simply to vent on message boards because nothing gets accomplished. I strongly urge you to write a letter to the school district, local authorities, AND to the Principal. Or just pick one…but DO SOMETHING!!! And let us remember that in order to get our points across we must be INDIGNANT and DIGNIFIED! I am in the process of starting a petition, once I have gathered some more crucial facts. Please be on the lookout for this petition and be sure to sign it ( via Change.org ) in addition to your letter or letters to Polk County Law Officials, The school Principal, and the School Administration. Contact Info Can be found below:

Bartow High School Principal Ronald Pritchard / Address: 1270 S Broadway Ave Bartow, FL 33830 / EMAIL: Ronald.Pritchard@polk-fl.net PHONE:(863)- 534-7400 Fax: (863)534-0077

Polk County Superintendent: Dr. John Stewart /Address: 1915 South Floral Avenue, Bartow, FL 33831 Phone: (863) 534-0521 Fax: (863) 519-8231 Email: Dr. John Stewart

Polk Regional Juvenile Detention Ctr

ADDRESS: 2155 Bob Phillips Road, Bartow, FL 33830

TEL: 863-534-7090
FAX: 863-534-7024
EMAIL:
pio@polksheriff.org

If we can all take 5-10 minutes to read this story, comment, and read posts by others then surely we can take the same amount of time to act on this child’s behalf.”

The petition is up.

Let’s not let Kiera Wilmot’s situation drift out of our consciousness. Let’s continue paying attention to this story until she is NOT a felon and NOT expelled. 

To be clear, I did this EXACT THING in ninth grade. THE EXACT SAME THING without consulting my science teacher and with significantly more explosive power. For some reason…not sure why…I was not arrested, handcuffed, expelled, or put in jail. If I had been, I can guarantee I would not be where I am now.

I want to add to this that signing the petition is a great first step, but I would also encourage people to continue to write (indignant, dignified) personal letters or emails. They tend to have more weight.

(via edwardspoonhands)