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This really hurts.

It appears that the only people out here defending Black women are other Black women. And within that act of defiance, we are punished for our courage.

Niya Kenny took the pledge I am my sister’s keeper literally when she stepped in to defend her classmate while she was being dragged across the floor by Officer Ben Fields. Her act of bravery landed her in jail on a “disturbing school” charge.

Niya spoke about the shock and fear that moved her to action, while the rest of the classroom stood still in silence.

Niya told WLTX, “I know this girl don’t got nobody and I couldn’t believe this was happening,” Kenny explained.

“I had never seen nothing like that in my life, a man use that much force on a little girl. A big man, like 300 pounds of full muscle. I was like ‘no way, no way.’ You can’t do that to a little girl. I’m talking about she’s like 5’6”.

Kenny describes that when she spoke up to protect her classmate, the officer took the action as insubordination.

“Since you got so much to say, you coming too. You want some of this?” He challenged.

Shortly after, officer Fields put Kenny’s hands behind her back placing her under arrest.

Her mother, though disturbed by the incident, looks at her daughter with pride.

“My child, and I’m not mad at her, she was brave enough to speak out against what was going on and didn’t back down and it resulted in her being arrested,” says Doris Kenny.

We are so proud of Niya for facing her fears and standing up for her classmate when no one else would. We will not be silenced.

Niya Kenny was released on a $1,000 bond.

MORE ON THE ASSAULT AT SPRING VALLEY:

#AssaultAtSpringValleyHigh: Who Is Deputy Ben Fields?

White Cop Violently Assaults Teenage Girl In South Carolina Classroom

 

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